No

Don’t be ridiculous

If this is the case it would make it a must win game for Furner

That doesn’t show that Smith doesn’t have a problem with defence, it simply highlights we have a number of poor defenders in the squad and starting team.

I really like Smith and think he is a good player and could become a great player. However, if he is a ball playing 13 and you compare him to SOL then he needs to improve his defence and show a bit more with the ball IMO. If you are saying smith is a better second row than Sutcliffe and should be playing over him I wouldn’t disagree but there just be a reason he isn’t. Not sure he does anything we clearly need at second row, he won’t get through the line regularly and doesn’t have any whack in defence.

Mate we’ve been here before. I’ve seen Cam Smith play a fair bit, from his Academy days through. He’s pretty good head on but has been poor laterally at times.

I agree he should be in the 17, and think he has more to offer than Sutcliffe, but when Furner gave him a shot he missed about 6 tackles? I get that this was at SO.

If you think Furner has some other ulterior motive for not picking an obviously talented player then fair enough. Why else do you think it is? We have 2 other players about the same age as regular first teamers, both of whom are pretty solid defensively as it happens.

We do have other issues with defence with other players too, I’d agree. I hope Smith does get a run in the side and develops his defence because there is a cracking player in prospect there.

Ok to correct myself, missed 2 and made 10 v Salford, made 46+ and missed 4 v Wakey; given age and being out of main position, not terrible by stats.

Furner has stated the team is lacking experience and so we’ll see JJB / Ablett for a while to shore things up I imagine.

I actually think we’ll win this one.

If we are bringing youth through then Cam Smith has to be in the 17.He is a footballer,yes he will miss tackles,everybody does.I find it utterly ridiculous we pontificate about our youth system and don't play them

Exactly. Which is my very point. I am not saying he is the answer, he may or may not. What I am saying is that it is completely wrong to say his defence is not good, based on missing some tackles in one match, where he was played out of position, and actually was the teams top tackler in the match. He has missed less tackles in two games than our current half backs miss each match played. In the first two matches of the season Sutcliffe in the back row missed seven tackles in each match, again more each match than Smiths two games together. That is what people should be comparing to, and I state again, that if defence is what is deemed the issue then somebody has a scew loose, becauase it is not consistent thinking.

My own view is that once again we are dealing with favouritism and more worryingly, contract stipulations. I can't see any other way why we persist in some selections other than that reasoning.

I think its right to question selection especally like Gotcha says much worse performers continue to get picked.
Not only that the recall of OAPS Jjb & Ablett hold no long term improvement whatsoever & in the latters case he was finished 2yrs ago.
Jjb may offer 20 minutes/half hour of decent graft & enthusiasm against a couple of lesser teams but will soon be found wanting agaisnt the better teams.
Its time we took the hit now & bloodied more youngsters on a regular basis imo the old guard offer veey little & then the likes of Sutcliffe & Ferres offer nothing whatsoever

Smith does get overlooked when it would be good to see him given a decent run in the side, but this is not just down to Furner.
McDermott was criticised on here for not giving him a chance. Sinfield took over and hardly picked him either. All 3 must see flaws to his game or think he is not yet ready

Smith and Golding in the 19 man squad for Featherstone this weekend.

Hearing Walker isn’t playing tonight which doesn’t go down well for Golding. With them included in Featherstone I wonder whether McLelland coming in or Sutcliffe is going to Fullback or Stand off.

Was going to say leeds by 12 before the above post but now i haven't got a clue!

I know I`m a fan of Golding so this will be a biased view.
But if they are thinking of playing Sutcliffe at SO or FB ahead of Golding and or Smith then it is a disgrace.
Plodders who should be nowhere near this squad get picked week on week and yet Golding and Smith who in my eyes have done little wrong get shafted.
Is Sinfield picking this team or Furner

Tui to FB and CM in would be my favoured option if Walker is out. More likely to see Ablett in and Sutcliffe to 6 though I reckon.

McDermott would probably pick Smith but decide to leave him on the bench for 80 minutes



I think we should show a bit of patience with Furner's selections, even if it isn't obvious what Sutcliffe brings and why others are being left out. Smith will probably get his chance at some point. It looks like Golding's being shown the door.

I kind of get it with Golding, not quite good enough for SL but we have worse!

So who decided to give him a five year deal to the end of 2021. Then not play him. ??? Was good enough then in 2017 but missed out on a grand final place, but not good enough to play in a middle 8s poor team.

Agree...but I don’t think Golding will play for the 1st team again?

Guessing game but if worst comes to it I hope it is:

Sutcliffe
Briscoe Newman Hurrell Handley
Lolohea Myler
Peteru Parcell Cuthbertson
Ferres Ablett
Merrin

Dwyer Oledzki Jones-Buchanan Holroyd

Although things could change on the night despite who has been selected to play for Fev.

Walker?Would love to see Holroyd get a game!

As said I’ve heard he’s not playing which I hope is wrong

Walker
Briscoe
Newman
Hurrell
Handley
Tui
Myler
Peteru
Parcel
Olezdski
Ferres
Sutcliffe
Merrin

Donaldson
JJB
Cuthbertson
Holroyd

Nice that Walker's in so Tui can stay in the Half's. Good to see Merrin in the loose, hope he can carry the second row... Nice also that Newman stays in and Holdroyd gets a chance - hopefully we'll get the win but at least something positive will come about from their selection.

What the fu*k is this all about? Abysmal side