Do you know of any media release from the Rhinos stating his absence length?

Personally I've not seen one so I will have to trust
A, That the SS posters is telling the truth and he did speak to Ali.
B, that Ali was telling him the truth.

Did you trust the media release last week with regards Peacock being available for the Wigan match?

If Smith were to start on the bench where would he play when he came on?
I see no benefit of bringing him on and moving Senior into the 2nd row. We would already have 3 players on the bench capable of playing there.Smith is comfortable in any position from 1 - 5, so as someone has posted it could be a good time to give anyone in the backs a rest to recover from any knocks. But if everyone is fit to play Smith would be the one to miss out IMO.

It's certainly a good dilemma to have, isn't it?

Oh no, how do we fit mr big game lee smith into the team?

Or another option could be to give Delaney or Senior a rest and play Smithy at centre.
I doubt for one minute he will drop Donald he has just come back from injury and needs to get match fit.
Smith to FB or Centre.
I would also leave JP on the bench and rest Kylie.

Delaney & Senior are too good to be dropped/rested.
Like i've said all along.

Smith @ 1
Webb @ 6
McGuire @ 7
Sinfield @ 13

As i posted on another thread..i spoke to Ali after the Wigan game and he said he's no chance of playing this Friday

The poster was me.

I can confirm therefore that A) is true and as Ali is a religious man I assume he would not be telling lies........you watch he'll now play Friday and make me look stupid...but i'm only reporting what he told me so getting in my defence now in anticipation of this thread being bookmarked and highlighted by someone late Friday night after Ali has played and picked up The Flying Pizza man of the match award

1. Brent Webb

2. Scott Donald
3. Brett Delaney
28. Lee Smith
5. Ryan Hall

13. Kevin Sinfield
6. Danny McGuire

8. Kylie Leulaui
9. Danny Buderus
10. Jamie Peacock

11. JJB
17. Ian Kirke
18. Carl Ablett

Subs:
12. Ali Lauitiiti
14. Matt Diskin
15. Greg Eastwood
16. Ryan Bailey

Give Senior a rest.

Will be interesting to see what the team is tbh.

As some people have mentioned, it's a nice problem to have though.

If anyone needs a rest its Smithy. He has come from Union carrying extra weight, been thrown in the deep and against Wigan I think his average performance reflects his need of a rest.

I'd rest Senior, have smith in there, then see where we stand after that.

Forwards I'd go with what we had for Wigan, but with Ali if back, if not Burgess for Clarkson

Smith made a few errors ball in hand but ran his blood to water making himself available for any potential offloads. Covered more ground than any other Leeds player, justifying his comment at the end that he was knackered.

Listening to some of the comments on here I wonder what people use to watch the game .... it can't be their eyes.

Keith Senior doesn't miss games. The notion that he needs to be 'rested' is an interesting one. Good luck with that.

Pah!, all that boils down to is who can be assed goin up to Roundhay for a free feed. I used to get corporate from Mr Pickles who kept asking me "just how good was this Matt Adamson?? he must be ace, he's in here every week!!"

I didnt have the heart to tell him that he wasnt man of the match in any of those weeks he turned up for grub





Gawd i miss those freebies

Its ok.

Step away from the computer and take some deep breaths.

You are not alone.

I have always been one of Smith's biggest fans on here, and defend accordingley. And I must say I had just endured an overnight flight from Johannesburg to get to Headingley on Saturday afty, so maybe tiredness played a part in my view, for which I apologise. But I thought Smith was 5h1te. You are probably correct on making himself available for offloads, but for me the reason Wigan's kick chase looked so good was in part because of just how bloody slow Smith was at returning kicks. It was like he was treading in concrete to return kicks, just none of his usual enthuisiasm. Seemed to quite often take the wrong option also.

And what can cause uncharacteristic handling errors? Fatigue.

There is talk of resting one of the back liners amongst many people. Imo nobody in that back stands out for a rest. But Smithy hasn't exactly had it easy has he? Maybe with his poor showing against Wigan its him that should be handed the rest?

I'd agree to an extent, but IMO it was the driving rain that made most of the play look slow, Smith has never been a "fast as you can" returner of the ball, he takes his time and looks for gaps but due to good Wigan defence he didn't find any.

Not taking anything away from him but the try was due to bad defending more than anything else.

I thinks this all a bit harsh on Lee he was no better or worse that any other Leeds player an I think we should be happy in the conditions with how we played, instead of bagging one of our own, it was different when ther was aclamour for him to rejoin us during out injury crisis, just give the lad a break he is always ther when it matters re 2008 & 2009 grand finals short memories for some.

and of course 2007 his try killed the game

Oh, so because Smithy has done us some big favours in the past he is exempt of any criticism? You would have thought people we're calling for his head.

Perhaps but more likely to be caused by the conditions and defenders attacking the ball in contact.

The decision to "rest" Senior may be taken out of Leeds' hands by the disciplinary committee, so that would "save" Smith the potential indignity of being dropped.
Might not be a bad outcome if it sends the message to the rest of SL not to kick out when tackled.
Ryna McGoldrick being a prime culprit.

I am not saying you cant be critical RhinoNeil just think that Lee not only scored thrty that broke the game but played just as well as the other players on the field

Sorry if I'm wrong but I thought grade A offence isn't that bad! slap on the wrists tops? I thought c,d were the banning grades?