Steward: Sinfield has given me belief

FREDDIE Steward hopes to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere comfort after coming through what he admits has been one of the most “challenging” spells of his relatively short playing career.

- GARY FITZGERALD

The Leicester full-back insists a good heart-to-heart with Kevin Sinfield helped lift his spirit and morale following a series of setbacks.

Steward, 23, has been fully focused and working hard during England’s training camp preparations for the forthcoming tour to Japan and New Zealand.

But he is grateful to rugby league great and top coach Sinfield for being something of an emotional “crutch” after the agonising World Cup semi-final loss followed by being dropped by Steve Borthwick mid-way through the Six Nations.

Tigers’ failed Premiership campaign also increased his woes while seeing George Furbank flourish in the England jersey ahead of him, left him facing something of a cross-roads.

England, with Borthwick deciding a much more open and attacking style was needed to develop his team, rounded off with a fine win over Ireland and strong performance in France.

Now, Steward needs to recover the head coach’s vote of confidence again and is thankful to Sinfield, below, for his wise words of advice. He admits: "It was a difficult time for me... a real challenge. The whole season was a challenge.