Kevin Sinfield: The Low-Key Legend

In the beginning, rugby was just one sport. Union, as it's now known, was little more than a folly. Unprofessional, uncodified and unorganised, it was the pastime of the upper classes, allowing those who could afford it time away from their work life, the lost wages of a Saturday not so much as a distraction. When the game eventually split in 1896, it was a sign of the times in the north of England, with the industrial revolution taking full effect and the poorer half of the country finding the confidence to mobilise in a manner that it had failed to in the past.

Players from the north - those who couldn't afford to sacrifice their weekend wage - wanted compensating for the time they spent playing rather than earning. Having presented their case to the powers that be, they were met with a typically Twickenham reaction: "If they can't afford to play," they were told, then "they shouldn't play". That class warfare that runs so close to the surface when the two codes start picking a fight was there from the start, and has only intensified with age.

Rugby league fans are often accused of having a chip on their shoulders, of being narrow-minded, and set in their ways. That acrimonious split from union, messier than most divorces, still hasn't fully healed over time – Sam Burgess will tell you as much. Today, the landscape of English rugby league is plotted roughly across the length of the M62, with eleven of the 12 sides that make up Super League - English rugby league's top tier - all easily accessible off that one stretch of northern motorway. Yorkshire and Lancashire aren't famed for their winning relationship with one-another, but as far as rugby league is concerned, there lies the heartland.

Despite all those years of professional play while union remained more of a game than a sport, rugby league is still the smaller, minority code. It's a cult game, adored by those who've grown up with it, and misunderstood by those who haven't had the fortune of getting to grips. Money talks, of course, and union still has more of it where it matters. The international game, much more widespread and developed than in league - another one on the honours board for colonialism - is where the sport triumphs, and names like Johnny Wilkinson and Martin Johnson have gone on to become celebrities and household fixtures in their own right.

What rugby league has always wanted - what the sport as a whole has craved - is a fair crack at showing the rest of the country what it's all about. There are negative connotations where league is concerned: with class, with violence, with skill and sporting legitimacy. For a game with so little money, it's only understandable the best athletes produced end up trying their hand in other countries or at other sports in an attempt to monetise the short time they're good enough to compete professionally. A sport that's more likely to pick up column inches for the rare instance of bad, rather than the months upon months of good, spreading the game has always been an uphill battle.

That though, could all be about to take a giant leap in the right direction.

Most of you reading this probably won't be too familiar with Kevin Sinfield - hell, many will not have seen a full 80-minutes of rugby league - but that's who this piece is about. We took the long way around to sprinkle in some context, but here's the rub: Kevin Sinfield is the greatest English sportsperson you've never heard of, and his nomination for Sports Personality of the Year is grossly overdue. Speaking to the man in question about the award, his career as a whole and what this sort of national exposure could mean for rugby league, by the end of this piece, there's only one person you should want to win - and it isn't Tyson Fury.

Born in Oldham in 1980, the man known affectionately as Sir Kev by Rhinos fans played at Leeds for his entire league career. Leaving to join sister club Yorkshire Carnegie at the end of last season at the age of 35, it was a move made to scratch the union itch before his body said it was too late. Joining the Rhinos as a junior at the age of 13, making his debut just three years later, Sinfield set about becoming one of the classiest men in sport both on and off the field. Balancing a hectic training and playing schedule with the completion of his A-Levels at the insistence of his parents, then Leeds coach Daryl Powell went on to make him captain in 2003, while he was still just 22.

"To get given that responsibility at 22 was a dream come true" he told VICE Spoers. "I know that cliché is used an awful lot, but to captain the best club in the world at that age was absolutely unreal. I knew how desperate everyone around me was to win trophies, so it's really nice looking back at that stage of my career now with all that we've won since."

On the field, Sinfield was an imposing figure, and never one to shy away from putting in the hard yards and grafting. Often one of the names highest up on the tackle count, he lead by example, staying cool and calm under pressure, leading his team around the field as a playmaker and organising them in defence without the ball. His metronomic right boot, perhaps the most prolific in either code of the game, was ever reliable. By his own admission, he wasn't the fastest, strongest or most skilful, but he more than made up for that in the way in which he applied himself week after week.

When he took over as captain, it had been over 30 years since Leeds had won a league championship. Under his leadership, the Rhinos went on to win seven in 12 years, becoming the most successful side of the modern Super League era, when most pundits doubted such a thing was possible with a salary cap system in place. It could have been a much different story though, had Sinfield accepted an offer late in 2002 from an Australian NRL club for his services.

"There's been opportunities to leave at different stages in my career" Sinfield explained, "but the end of 2002 was a special time." Rumours of moves being made for Sinfield have existed for the entirety of his career, with whispers of NRL, union and even NFL interest dropping in and out of the stands year on year. In his own version of events though, it never seems like those offers were ever really considered.

What was so special about that period at Leeds is that, in a sport where spending is monitored so carefully, they were able to manage their resources across a fantastic squad in such a way that key personnel were never tempted away by bigger pay packets elsewhere, which is usually the downfall of championship winning clubs. That culture of meritocracy and success is one that Sinfield helped establish, eradicating the drink and fast food culture of old, transforming the Rhinos in to England's most organised club both on and off the field. "We realised we were on to something special with the brilliant group we had and the support this club has always had, so the key ingredient in keeping that together was success; as soon as that happens, you don't want to go" he explained.

Across the course of a season, a Super League club is limited to spending £1.8 million on the wages of its players. How then, in a world where the best players can be tempted away by little more than a competitive salary, did Leeds keep together such a dominant squad for so long? "It's been well documented that every player in our squad - still now going in to 2016, even though I'm not a part of that - could go any other club in Super League and earn more money" Kevin told us. "They decided to stay here for a whole host of reasons. They're prepared to play for each other, trust one another, and they believe in where the club are going and what the team is doing."

It's perhaps fitting, hearing that explanation, that the Leeds Rhinos are also nominated for Team of the Year at the Sports Personality ceremony this weekend. In 2015, having been dealt three separate blows by established, legendary players all announcing their intentions to leave, sending them out on a high suddenly became Leeds' focus of the season. Also leaving were Jamie Peacock, one of the finest forwards the country has ever produced, and Kylie Leuluai, the most successful overseas signing in the history of the side. A solid season would've been enough for all involved, while a piece of silverware would've been the icing on the cake. Instead, the Rhinos conspired to sweep the board, winning all that was put before them, becoming on the third side in Super League history to do a treble.

For the departing captain, it was almost too good to be true. "The last three weeks of the season in particular were a highlight, as was winning the Challenge Cup by 50 clear points, but those last three weeks in particular - the League Leader's win at Huddersfield in the last second, the win at home against St Helens and then the Grandfinal - that was the perfect ending." In years gone by, Sinfield has often sighted the first season where Leeds came back from an average league campaign, finishing fifth, to win the Championship after impressing in the play-offs, as his favourite ever season. The one just passed, however, has now eclipsed all that.

"The treble was unbelievable. Coming back from fifth twice was brilliant, especially in 2012 having been beaten in the cup final by Warrington, so to bounce back like we did was great" he said. "Last year though, given that I spent some time out of the team and it was announced I was having a career change at the end of the season, you have a plan of how you'd like it to look. For want of a better phrase, you have this fairytale ending in the back of your mind, knowing that's very unlikely that you'll get what you want."

Af far as fairytale finishes go, this one couldn't have come off more perfectly scripted. Leeds won the Challenge Cup at Wembley by 50 points to nil, the largest winning margin in the competition's history. They secured top spot in the league on the final night away to West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield, scoring one of the most dramatic breakaway tries possible in the dying seconds to come from behind and win improbably. The week after, in the play-off semi against St Helens, the team were once again behind late on, only for Sinfield to kick one of the most perfect kicks possible to secure field position out of nothing, single-handedly inspiring another late winner. In the final, won by just two points against Wigan, it was Sinfield's conversion that was the difference, separating the two sides on the night.

Across a career that has helped define an entire generation of rugby league, Sinfield has quietly gone about writing his name deep in to the history books. He is only one of only four Englishmen to be awarded the Golden Boot, the sports highest individual honour, and is third in the all-time leading point scorers in the history of the game. He is the highest points scorer in the history of the national side, Super League and the Leeds Rhinos, has been awarded the man of the match awards at both the Challenge Cup final and Super League grandfinal, as well as captaining his country to within seconds of a World Cup final and being awarded an MBE. During that time, he was planning for his future too, completing an undergraduate degree in sports science, and a masters in sport business, safeguarding his future away from the field.

Given that his list of honours is longer than a Leonard Cohen song, does it ever irk him that when he's nominated for awards like these, they're still people having to ask who he is?

"That side of things doesn't bother me at all. I play for a team, and I have played for a team for the past 19 seasons, and I'm very proud of representing the Rhinos and everything that they're about. If people don't know me, I don't have a real problem with it. I hope they know and understand the Rhinos though, for what we've done over the past 19 seasons. The club have been everything to me, I've never been one to seek the limelight, I'm quite a private person, so it doesn't bother me all that much."

When he was awarded the Golden Boot, an award almost always reserved for the best Australian player on the planet at any given time, the Aussie press set off scrutinising the decision en mass. Reflecting on another possible victory in an individual sense, Kevin was quick to point out the difference between this experience and ones that have come before. "The response towards the Sports Personality nomination has been a lot more positive than the Golden Boot win, but, again, it doesn't bother me. I haven't selected myself for either one of them."

Even when discussing his recognition by the state, he's always keen to turn attention away from himself, and back on to those who've been around him. "Being given an MBE is something that makes you really proud, obviously, and I'm thankful that rugby league gave me that opportunity and career. It was a great day for the family and a nice thing for the club. I was representing the team when I went and collected that award, and I never for one second think I could've done it without them; I needed every single one of them every single day. It's nice to be recognised, although I don't crave any of that. I'm happy in my own skin, I'm at peace with my career and I look forward to new challenges that come my way over the next few years."

It's often said of Sinfield that he's one of sports humblest people, always one to point to someone else before accepting any plaudits for himself. Does that make him, even though he's now an MBE, more accessible to fans as a role model than other sports may be able to achieve? "The beauty of rugby league is that it's kept us very much in touch with real life and real people, and that's something I'm really proud of about our game. We can hold a conversation with a bloke off the street or royalty, and I think that's really important."

Speaking to Sinfield, hearing him articulate himself in a broad northern accent - a hybrid of his adopted Yorkshire and the Lancashire town of Oldham that he hails from - it's not hard to notice how close rugby league still has its ties to those working-class towns that built the sport up after its initial split. Is that association with the working classes more of a hinderance than a help, though? "It certainly can be, but it's something we can use to our advantage as well. I think we're a sport that's very proud of our history and tradition. In many ways that may have slowed some of our progress, but I think we should be very proud of how our game was born. The heart and soul of our game is probably based in those northern working-class towns that over the past hundred or so years have looked to make progress, not just in rugby league, but in the towns themselves."

With that salary cap in place, even with endorsements, league players don't earn the kind of money that allows them to retire once their playing days are over. While some get in to coaching, others open businesses or learn a trade. Sinfield has always had an eye on getting involved in the upper-echelons of the game. "I went back and studied, did my Masters in Sport Business, and that was with a view to sport administration in the future. I want to work here at the Rhinos, I want to be a part of what the team is about and I'd like to think that if all goes well with Carnegie that there might be a dual-role. I may have left rugby league for a short period of time, but I'll definitely be back."

During his time at university, he gave a talk about how success amounts to more than just ability, which is something that appeared to be one of the secrets behind his consistency and longevity at the height of the sport. England coach Steve McNamara once said that even if Sinfield knew he wouldn't be the best player on the park, he'd make sure he was the most prepared, which is something the man himself goes along with. "You need some talent, but your attitude and your application towards your job, for me, have been far more important. The commitment, perseverance and determination you're prepared to show help you come through some of those rocky times that we all have in our careers and our lives. I suppose that's really key to me still being here and playing today."

Back when we first pitched this piece, all the way back towards the start of the year, we mentioned that the lack of recognition Sinfield has had from the likes of Sports Personality was one the reasons we wanted to shed some light on one of English sport's true unsung heroes. His nomination was a pleasant surprise, but much more out of the blue for the man suddenly jolted back in to the spotlight. "Yeah a shock, very much so. It's a nice surprise. Being in a team sport as well, you don't really expect to be up for individual awards. To be among the 12, it's obviously fantastic for myself and great for the Rhinos, but perhaps more importantly, it's a huge step for rugby league. It's not only the first time a league player has been nominated but, over the past 30 years, we've craved the attention and spotlight that's been needed to take our sport to that next level."

Will this nod from a major, mainstream institution help rid rugby league of its outsiders image, and rewrite the various misconceptions of what the sport is about? "I'm not sure to be honest with you" was the honest response, "but what it will do on the night is give us a little bit more airtime, more than that usual 10 or 15 seconds that rugby league gets. The people at the BBC have invested a lot of money in the sport and have been keen to see that through with things like the Challenge Cup coverage and the recent international series, and it's important we keep that base on terrestrial television, and not just on Sky."

And now for the big question: can he win it?

The fans and the bookmakers certainly think he's in with a shout, but what about the man himself? "I don't know, you tell me?" he half laughs as we ask. "Honestly, I'm just so pleased to be in the 12. To give rugby league that platform in front of a national audience of millions is fantastic. We'll see. I don't have any expectations at all, I want to go and enjoy the night, all the Rhinos players are there from last year, so I'm going to enjoy their company again, and we'll see what happens."

It's not often you get to hear about sportspeople like Kevin Sinfield, never mind to sit down with them and pick their brain about one of the most decorated careers in their profession. The man, as far as legends and icons go, may not be one of the most well known, but he's one of the most deserving. How rare is it to hear from someone who'll happily admit to turing down various lucrative opportunities - and asking others to do the same - all in the name of sporting integrity and success? Rugby league is overdue its time in the spotlight, and there's no one better than Kevin Sinfield to bring it shoulder-first into the public consciousness.

Sadly, it's likely you've missed your chance to see Sir Kev playing the game he excelled in for so long, but we couldn't leave without asking if a comeback would ever be on the cards. "I probably can't see it. I'm happy that I'm still on terms with the league boys, can support them, come and watch them play with my family and see the game from a different perspective.

And yet, the hope lingers: "I'd never say never."

@bainsxiii

Sports Personality of the Year is this Sunday evening on BBC One.You can register online to vote for free or phone-in on the night.