For mine it's harder to learn how to play Union if you are a league convert than a Union convert to league.
Is it physically tougher than league I don't think so especially for backs who sometimes hardly have to make a tackle.

I like Lee Smith as a player and would be more than happy to see him back at Leeds but were does he fit into the squad?

I agree if he is but several months out learning another game he'll probably be off the pace.

Can we insist on him re-growing his 'fro?

I can't see how it's difficult, I honestly think that Union clubs sign league backs for the wrong reasons. I looked at Wasps squad this year and couldn't see where Smith would get a game. He can't play full back straight off and they signed Tom Varndell (already an England international on the wing) to add to Sackey, had one of the best young centres in England and two 10's who had to play (one becaue he was good and the other because he's called Cipriani).

I think they (Wasps) were under cap because they offloaded a lot of forwards, and litteraly just picked Smith up like they were walking through Waitrose and saw a nice pack of Hob-Nobs to stick in their trolley.

Looking back to the interview he gave after the Grand Final was anyone convinced he really wanted to leave the Rhinos?

I think Gareth Thomas would agree with you.

I think you're probably right about him initially playing on the wing but would disagree about him 'fighting 'for his place. They wouldn't have given him a 4yr deal if that was the case. Senior must be looking over his shoulder now.

Sorry but I missed this one last night. If you are still interested here they are.

Leeds - Lee Smith by starting position - SL Era (All Comps):

Full-Back - 24
Right Wing - 40
Right Centre - 18
Left Centre - 2
Left Wing - 13

Total 97 + 5 substitute appearances

Tries 51, Goals 22, Drop Goal 1, Points 249



More shoddy journalism, imagine missing off the last bit of the sentence: [i“He went there for the year and there are salary-cap implications.”[/i =#FF0000now that we have re-signed Lee Smith.

Which recent converts other than Smith and possibly Rayner do you consider to have flopped ?

Chris Ashton & Stephen Myler seem to have done ok at Northampton.

It'll depend how long that piece of string turns out to be:

Karl Pryce?
Chev Walker?

The most succesful recent converts are (arguably) Robinson and Farrell. Major contributing factors to both those guys relative success was I believe, their mental approach and maturity. Also, Robinson stayed local - Sale was not a break from his family. If Robinson had made the move before he found his faith and matured as a person he would have probably failed as miserably as the two you mention. Farrell made a career change and was/is obviously smart enough to see coaching in Union offering a longer term option than league.

I'm not criticising Walker, but it should have been obvious to him that moving his life down to Bath was going to be just as big a challenge as taking up Union.

For Smith, it was a real gamble to move to a glamour club like Wasps. But for me one look at the Wasps squad for this season should have been enough for him to realise he was not getting a game. I personally blame the bu**ter at Wasps that sold him (and/or his agent) on the move.

Glad he's back though - especially after only a short time. He should still know what the try line looks like and he should still remember to check on his inside shoulder when he makes an outside break rather than kicking the ball 10 yards before he reaches the last defender (Ashton is obviously beyond all hope).

Agree entirely with DHM in the fact that RU clubs are - thankfully TBH - still looking at signing players on the basis of their RL credentials rather than how they may fit in RU. I don't know the Wasps squad, but I suspect the only position Smith could really stand out in RU is full back. He's not a great winger and he's - IMO - simply not cut out to be a centre in either code. He is a big-game player for Leeds in a variety of positions.

We can chuckle at Union clubs going for 'stars' rather than players with the right abilities to switch, but league clubs have a long history of doing the same in reverse. John Gallagher, David Young, Mark Brooke-Cowden at Leeds are good examples. You can add plenty from other clubs too.

Just been reading the Smith thread on the Wigan board, they would not touch him with a ty stick, couldn't get a sniff in at the Wigan team.

Amos Roberts leaves his clown costume at home in the off-season and strings together 8 decent games and suddenly they're too good for an international Grand Final specialist like Smith.

Oh I can't wait for October.

Still, it's been a long time between drinks for Wigan fans so you can excuse their giddiness at the ground breaking 7 wins they've gained.

Its ok because they will end up winning fook all again this season and Smithy will score in 4 consecutive GFs



[size=50lined myself up for somebodys sig come october[/size

He's very average and is only known for having one good game that happened to be in a grand final.

He would not be anywhere near fit enough for the super human fitness levels the
MM has pulled out of his magic Melbourne ruck sack and handed to all the Wigan players.

I kid you not.

Plus they are lecturing Leeds on the salary cap.

Bless.

There's a FedEx tracking number for a consignment of red noses and big flappy shoes that should arrive at a shared football stadium sometime soon (maybe two shared football stadiums, I'm not sure).

It's from the same consignment that went to Wakefield a few weeks ago.

This is a good one (and I've only had to read the first 4 or 5 replies)...



...Smithy has always been a really committed player who gives 100% every week- just because he made a mistake in moving to the dark side there's no reason to think his attitude would change

Imagine is Farrell had gone straight back to Wigan after deciding he couldn't settle in union, would the Wigan fans question his commitment?.

I actually read that thread and got to page five. I had to stop because I had ed myself and didn't have a change of slacks at the office.

Apparently, according to fans of the now super fit, champions of March, Wigan, Smithy isn't fit to lace Cameron Phelps boots.

By the way, if you want a contrast, read what Saints fans think of Smith in [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=18&t=451007this thread[/url.

Unlike the fans of the "Champions of March" the fans of the "Mighty S" can clearly appreciate the talents of a big game player they've seen up close in the last three Grand Finals.

You know what, I don't care what the fans of other teams think of Smith.
Tonight showed us that had he played against the Storm, we may well (would) have scored the 2 tries that Watkins so nearly scored.
We'll never know what effect that could have had on the rest of our season to date.
Let's hope he gets the chance to strut his stuff yet again at Old Trafford.