KEVIN Sinfield’s announcement that he was switching to rugby union at the end of the season certainly captured plenty of column inches and an unusual amount of time on the national television and radio sports bulletins.

It is always nice to see stalwarts of the rugby league code get recognition for their achievement in the game - and, as painful as it was for Saints, Sinfield deserves plaudits for leading a Leeds team to five titles in a six year spell.

However, you do get the impression that had Sinfield, who turns 35 in September, opted to go round the block in league one more year and then hung up his boots he would not have had any of that fanfare and precious little in the way of national tribute.

It certainly got much more publicity than the announcement that his indomitable Leeds teammate Jamie Peacock was moving to an upstairs role at Hull KR.

It is pretty indicative of the way rugby league is treated by the national media that the chance of playing 18-months in the second rung of the 15-man code ladder, in the fag end of his career, in front of sparse Headingley crowds is probably deemed more newsworthy than 19 glittering years at the top level.

Maybe former skipper Chris Joynt - two-time Harry Sunderland winner and victorious Grand Final, World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup captain - missed a trick when he retired from Saints in 2004.

Perhaps he should have announced a press conference declaring his code-switch to Wigan Vets rugby union?

Publicity aside, Sinfield and Peacock’s departure represent two big beasts of the rugby league world leaving the big match arena.

Just as Saints took time to adjust following the departures of big characters and leaders in Messrs Joynt, Long, Cunningham and Sculthorpe, so too will Leeds.

Teams get used to certain voices and the way the big players can call the shots. As an example, just look at the way Warrington have floundered without Lee Briers despite spending years grooming potential successors.

With Kylie Leuluai, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow also nearing the latter end of their careers at Headingley it will be interesting to see if the generation below them can step up to the plate.

But given Saints fans can possibly blame all the above mentioned players for creating nightmares at Old Trafford between 2007-2011, the departures will probably be greeted with a sigh of relief over here!