Just give him some time. Smith has a cool head and will grow into this role, he is in a period of adjusting to the responsibility. When the pressure was seriously on, he came up with the goods from the touchline on Sunday, this for me shows that he has the temperament to handle the pressure of being our regular kicker.

The likes of Sinfield, Brough and Walsh have not always been the best kickers around. Even Pat struggled at first but as players start to practice more and take on the responsibility they will improve. Smith will be doing plenty of practice after training and every kick he takes will give him additional experience.

I agree it will cause a major problem in some games we don't have an 80% plus goal-kicker but I'm pretty confident Smith will adjust to the role.

We have been spoilt with freakish goal-kickers in the past, lets not get on his back after a few games.

You are ignoring how missed kicks can change the dynamics of the game. We scored two good tries v HKR but were only 8 points to the good for it. I think we looked pretty deflated as a team when Smith missed the second kick which was an easy kick. One attack off them and it was 8-6. It also gives the other side hope which I also think occurred v HKR and so whatever the stats from last season say I don't think you can conclude those 2-4 dropped points can be dismissed and we would still have won any of those games from last season.



I thought when we brought in average players it wasn't a problem as once Wane and Bitcon got hold of them they would improve. That is the usual excuse if we sign average players

matty smith is more than capable, just needs to learn composure you could tell he was going to miss the kicks he did as it looked like he was over thinking it.

I can tell you it didn't do anything to improve my humour watching Pat hoof over kicks from every bloody conceivable angle at the week end (to add to two smartly taken tries and a 70 yard drop out)!!!

that drop out was something else its good to see that a 32 year old who spent majority in super league can still "cut it in the NRL". But yeah i would rather see him in a wigan shirt every weekend as well. super player who is a Wigan legend, good to see him spreading the joining jack over there as well.

Don't forget though that Frano himself felt his goal kicking was a way into the side because he would not get a game otherwise. He did of course become a very good No 6 in his own right but at first was stuck out on the wing while he learned the game.

So in a way Frano is a good example of including a player in the side just for his goal kicking who isn't that good a player to start with.

Goal kicking was important enough for Monie to do that despite reservations about signing him in the first place (he wanted Phil Blake instead) and it remains as important IMO.