Smith gets caught on the wrong side of the tackled player a lot when he's getting up after a tackle. He doesn't control the collision and he's always late into marker. Was far, far too slow getting into position on the goaline costing us a try second half. I know he's young but he seems to be lethargic and lack genuine strength and power running or in the tackle. Just not that impressive.

Shape is non existent in the team going forward or defending, kicking game is dreadful and last play on opponents line is beyond crap. Apart from that there's not much to work on, just fitness, attitude and basic decision making and skills. Not much at all. Be right in no time.

Yes watched the tries again the other day. Smith was awful in defence

I remember watching highlights of Smith in the academy because he was going to be a megastar and being shot down for suggesting he looked like a lot of his game seemed to be based on being bigger than the opposition.

He certainly doesn't seem to have transitioned to first team that well yet. He's clearly got a good rugby brain but as a forward that counts for nothing if he can't do the basics.

Cam Smith is absolutely fine. Hes still young and is doing a decent job and is gaining experience along the way.

Anyone remember Sinfield Ablett and JJB at same age?

Kevin Sinfield was an International at Smiths age

Weve had a few next big things over the years who didnt quite hit the heights. We were so fortunate to get Sinfield all those years ago and then read the comments that really meant admiration from opposing fans

He played in a young team that beat Russia but was only just becoming a real regular in the Leeds team at the same age and if you remember got dropped for the cup final that year.

Cam will be fine.

I tend to agree. He is a real footballer but still very young. What I will say though is that he needs to work extremely hard on his physical conditioning because he doesn’t have that natural edge now at open age.

He can defend very well front-on.

The thing is he’s a young learning his trade, and needs real quality around him. I think we need a Sims or JWH type prop still - someone who can put a shot on and lift the ante in defence. I don’t know who might be available for 2020 but we need some ticker and tiger in that pack.

I agree regarding a hard hitting prop but would also add that a tough tackling number 9 in the middle of the park would also help the team.

Where they come from is another issue.

I’m wondering if they plan to let Dwyer go and use Parcell as main hooker for the final year of his contract while Johnson comes through.

Oh I thought Parcells deal was up this year .I'm probably wrong as usual

From what I hear, I will be gobsmacked if Parcell is around by October. That doesn’t mean I see them keeping Dwyer however.

Johnson isn’t ready for regular first team yet so that would mean a new signing there too then.

Yeah interesting.. thats probably what Dwyer was alluding to in his YEP interview.. it must be a bit unsettling to a few which isnt helping but its a necessity to sort matters out

To be honest with one or two notable exceptions, you could let every player over 23 in this squad go and just start again for me.

Ditto. The real shortlist would be which players you'd do everything in your power to keep. The sad answer is not many if anyone half decent was available to replace them.

Which of the older players would anyone be desperate to keep, assuming we had an 'average joe' SL player (or up and comer) able to replace them?

In the backs I'd only put Hurrell and Watkins in that category (assuming Watkins can get back to his former self). In the forwards...Ava, Merrin maybe, Ward if he was ever fit? Its a shockingly short list - I could make a case for letting any of them go if the choice was between them and say a quality 7.

Parcell is contracted for next year so unless he agrees to go by finding another club or unless the club pays his contract off which would come under the cap restrictions hes not going anywhere.

He's going Marty. But I get your point, hence why I said October. Have a feeling it will be sooner though.

Hurrell, Watkins (with the caveat that he may end up in the second row, which worries me), Ava, Ward, maybe Merrin. Peteru as a squad player depending on his salary. That is a pretty depressing short list given that two of them are under significant injury clouds, another is error prone and another is a bit of an expensive luxury IMO.

Walker, Newman and Oledszki should be in that list. Put them in a team with senior players who were doing their job and I think people would rightly be excited by their prospects, smith to a lesser degree.

Agree with this.Turn of this decade when we still had most of the senior group in their pomp they would be seen as future stars and be standing out much more in a more often than not dominant team.

That doesn't mean they won't reach full potential in the current climate; infact they are getting far more game time than they would ever likely have got back then and if we can sort ourselves out sometime soon the experiences gained now could be invaluable.

Anyone advocating getting rid of those three have lost the plot.

I don't think anyone is...?

They were missing off the lists of must keep players?

Noticed you’d put those over 23

Yep sorry missed 'of the older players but'

Carry on