A quality hooker can help make a dominant pack in terms of the quality of his distribution (read peacock's book to see how important this is to a front rower) and the front foot he can get his forwards on with the quality of his running game.

I don't think Smith is particularly slow. He's fast enough to play wing, so he should be fast enough to play centre. He has decent pace, just not blinding pace like Donald or Penny. IMO, acceleration and footwork is more important than pace for a centre. I think he has these, which could amke up for his lack of bulk.

Brad Godden wasn't pacy or big.

but his winger scored a boat load, as did innes's. its the timing with some centres, How goods gardner without gidley?

A valid point which is why Mclennan's handling of the right centre position this season has been truly shocking and which is why Smith should be given at least half a dozen games there before any changes are contemplated.

Its what he should have done from the start of the season with whoever got the nod. IMO he wants Watkins to play, but doesn't trust him in big games.

Smith was covering for Webb at the start of the season.

I'd only have one slight reservation/qualification about this point and none about the rest.

The NRL is very different to SL - its intensity and skill level are higher and alot of this is down to the way the game is played and rules interpreted. It also means that it suits certain types of player - a big star in the NRL might not mean a player whose core strengths are as suited to SL. Or vice versa - James Roby is a star in SL and well suited to the interpretations and playing styles here but would be relatively impotent in the NRL because they contest the ruck far more.

There have been some 'considered quality' players from the NRL who've failed to live up to their billing in SL and equally some who are great successes here but seemed also rans in the NRL. He who shall not be named would have said the latter were proof of the mediocrity of Stupour League and whilst he'd be right to a degree, the former prove that its also down to things simply being 'different' and that suiting some players more than others.

I was more referring to the constant swapping of ABlett, Watkins and Gibson.

We should have stuck with 1 of them

Probably not, although a defensive line that often includes McGuire & Burrow becomes even more lightweight if you throw smith into the equation. Much prefer him at FB.

Actually I'd have said Godden was quick over 20 to 30 metres but didn't have a cruising speed. It's the first burst of pace that is important in a centre.

People didn't mention the weakness of the defensive line when Hall was out and Smith was in it last season. Size isn't evrything. All sides have smaller players, and I'd say the techniques of Burrow & McGuire makes them better befensively than most half backs in the country.

I wouldn't have said pace was his best asset he was just an all round complete centre who didn't necessarily need space to beat a man or create space for his winger,

OK then, I will use another example of a his class centre who had virtually zero pace - David Stephenson.

Was going to mention him in the thread earlier, along with godden & innes etc, a wingers dream.

Craig Izzard's Aussie career, certainly before his all too short stint here and to an extent afterwards, was nowt to write home about.

And on the flip side, I'd say Mark Carroll was one of the biggest flops over here, yet went on to win more rep honours when he went back to Aus.

I agree Stevo was a class act and regularly looked like he was running in treacle. IMO, pace was less important then as player fitness levels were lower (most were part time) and the defensive organisation meant that there were regularly gaps on the outside as (very) slow players went there for a rest.

Just to balance the argument a little I don't believe that pace is the be-all-and-end-all for a centre, but without it he has to have a very strong skill set in all other aspects.

"Spud" Carroll, certainly had all the skills of Mr Potato Head. Lord was he crap....

I agree. I think he could be a sucess there. Its no guaruntee, but I think he should be given a fair shot at it.

Mark Laurie & Tony Currie, relatively unknown during their first stint, came back internationals.

Godden was over six foot and had a real turn of pace - what was suprising when he was over for the CC reunion he did not look any different

Never in a million years was he over 6ft



He was one class act though

He must have carried Willie Carsons box to stand on.

He was (and probably still is) 5 feet 10.

Do you reckon Eccelshill rhino is a heightist. From his view of tonight's game he must have had a tall Brad Godden standing in front of him