he hasnt shown anything close at centre, nowhere near

i dont think he has consistantly yet but that will come with experiance, and i think Smith has shown more than a few glimpses of being capable of being on a different level to Donald

ive no doubt we do, for next season,

doesnt help us this

Smith hasn't had chance there yet!!


Different "type" to donald,scotty does the buisness yes he's been off colour but show me a winger who wouldn't with so many change's in centre partner.

I think he should make a good centre. He has decent feet, and I beleive he can attract a defender, and ship the ball out. I'm not sure I agree with the argument that he's too small either

In my younger days I would regularly call for the entire team to be changed every year (and funnily enough my prayers were usually answered). But we were rubbish then and desperate (possibly becuase we changed all our players every year). I'm older and heavier now and realise the folly of "lucky dip" squad management.
However, I don't see how those two scenarios above are mutually exclusive? Surely "a few alterations" could mean signing a player or two from "without"?

Without wishing to pick nits, is that "proportion" or "number" you actually mean? We have more fans, ergo more "number" even when the "proportion" remains the same...

It's his lack of pace that I am concerned about. You don't need to be a giant, but you do need some gas if you're not to be a good centre. I saw some old footage fo Senior a while back and you soon forget how explosively quick he was even just a couple of years ago. If you can't go over the guy infront you've got to be able to at least get past him to release your winger.

I'm not convinced he has either the gas or the skill to draw in his opposing winger and release his own winger from centre.

One thing seems certain, if Lee Smith is to still be at Leeds next season it will be in the centre as Hall has one wing stitched up, and Donald has signed on for another year and will take the other spot.

After less than half a dozen starts in the centre, all of what everyone (me included) is saying about Smith is opinion rather than fact.

Where does it say the new VISA Rules weren't been discussed before that time?



Where does it say they thought it up overnight in February?

He's not replaced him adequately.



I didn't disagree with Buderus.



Did he get an upgrade?



Guffaw.



Out
Scruton an international
Tansey
Ellis an international
Toopi an international
Eastwood an international

In
Ambler
Buderus




The Leeds deal was potentially worth more over a longer period based on bonuses for winning things.



I'd utilise the money we arent spending on Ellis, Toopi, Scruton, Eastwood and Tansey.

One of the best post's I've read on here for a while. So Soliola got away. Might not be ideal, but not the end of the world for us.
And I'm fully with you that we do still have a good chance of winning the title this season and if the right deal is there I'm sure it will be done.

rubbish!! its some of the ones i pay more attention to!! flannery is gash.

Quality rebuttal. Lower than the standards you usually set, which is actually quite an achievement.

I think he's indicating you've changed your opinion of Smith.

Ah, for the halcyon days of quality signings like John Basnett, Alan Rathbone, Steve Molloy, Neil harmon etc, etc, etc.



If you do really want a quality centre from the NRL, it may help if people:

1) Look at centres rather than guys who have played the odd game there. Karmichael Hunt? Craig Wing? Are you just picking names out of a hat?

2) Avoid the ageing, injury-prone types. Adam McDougall scores 9 out of 10 for age, and 9 out of 10 for being highly injury prone. Next please.

3) Look at who is really considered quality. Soliola is being raved about on here as though we just missed out on Mal Meninga circa 1982, but is not seen as the best centre around the NRL or aything like. I suspect Leeds offered him a reasonable deal but probably not mega bucks, and if you look at his record to date, that makes a lot of sense. If Sts have broken the bank to get him they're taking a big gamble IMO.

4) Have some idea of whether the players fitting categories 1-3 are actually available or want to go to SL. Hodges and Folau would be great. But they're probably not free for years.

When you look at 1-4, I suspect that only people actually well-versed in the NRL and in discussions with player agents could even suggest reasonable names. Hopefully Hetherington is in that boat. Having said that, Leeds may have decided we don't need a centre at all, which unlike some people I can actually understand. I'd be looking at the pack before worrying about some dandy centre.

By laughing at a post where I say that Smith has never been as good a winger as Donald?



If he thinks that then he either can't read or is unable to comprehend the simplest of points...............

Never been the sharpest though has he.

Fair point.

is it a case of 3 wingers and 1 centre so we will put a square peg in a round hole to keep everyone happy?

for once DISA hit the nail on the head when he said if the pack was a dominant one the centre position wouldn't matter as much as iwe would be on the front foot

I have concerns about our recruitment over the last off season. Forwards Ellis and Scruton out, replaced by one for the future. Even if we'd signed Eastwood we'd still be one forward down.

No point signing an extra hooker as the same reasoning appplies to the centre. Dominant pack required.

We can still win SL with what we have though.

as he likes to sign over-rated,over the hill overseas players instead of young quality players still in their prime....

he was having a reconstruction at the time leeds were looking

H-T-H

Possibly yes. But Bluey was pretty vociferous that Smith would making a cracking centre so I guess we will see.

And he's right. Goodness me, I need to lie down.