By Phil Gordos

Sinfield is in his first season as Leeds Rhinos skipper

Kevin Sinfield's leadership skills face their toughest test so far following a turbulent 36 hours for the Leeds Rhinos.

Tuesday's jailing of Chev Walker and Ryan Bailey was followed by Wednesday's shock news that coach Daryl Powell will stand down at the end of the season.

As if that was not enough to send pulses racing amongst Leeds fans, the club then lost their grip on the Tetley's Super League summit when Bradford demolished London 60-6 at Griffin Park on Wednesday night.

In his first season as skipper, the 22-year-old Sinfield has handled the pressures that come with the job of captaining what is generally regarded as the biggest club in British rugby league remarkably well.

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Who could forget his successful touchline conversion that kept Leeds' Challenge Cup hopes alive in that dramatic semi-final with St Helens?

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And what about the way he bounced back after getting the bulk of the blame for the Rhinos' Cup final defeat at the hands of the Bulls?

But now he faces his biggest challenge after an amazing couple of days.

Perhaps it is just as well Leeds decided to become the first Super League club to appoint a full-time psychologist at the start of the season.

Darren Robinson will certainly earn his money this week.

Leeds may well beat Hull at the Kingston Communications Stadium on Saturday.

It remains to be seen just how big an effect Powell's decision to "move upstairs" will have on the Leeds camp

It is often the case that teams or individuals rally following a serious setback.

But it is not so much what happens this weekend, although a defeat will only compound Leeds' problems, but what happens in subsequent matches.

Wigan paid the price for announcing that coach Stuart Raper would quit at the end of the season, sacking him just days later after a heavy home defeat to Widnes.

And it remains to be seen just how big an effect Powell's decision to "move upstairs" will have on the Leeds camp.

Sinfield has a massive role to play in ensuring Rhinos are not knocked off course.

And on evidence thus far, he is the perfect man for the job.