Injured for the rest of the season and so has played his last game for Wigan.

Overall success or failure? Worth the gamble?

I'd thank him for all his efforts (particularly the Saints game at Murrayfield) but overall I'd prefer to see us move back to a more stable recruitment pattern

I do not like short term signings so I do not think he was worth the gamble. He showed some touches of genius at times but I cannot help think that if he had not been in the team for the Cas and Wakey games at home we would of won them.

We had the money to take the gamble at the end of last year so why not. At the time of him signing we were all excited at the prospect of getting one of the worlds best halfbacks into our side for little money even though it was a risk.

Overall because of the cost i don't think you could call it a failure yet we'd have hoped for more from him. His game isn't really suited to the attacking nature of superleague because he has no running game.

Nothing ventured nothing gained on the Smith deal and in the end we haven't lost out.

Was worth a gamble.

It didn't work.

A couple of bits of magic didnt make up for his major failings as a player.

but without him we wouldnt have beaten stains in Scooootland - take your pick? - I know which Id have

When the weather was good and things were going our way, he was great. It's been a long time since I saw such a good passer of the ball.

When it was pouring down and our backs were against the wall, he could be a liability.

Hope coming here has helped him with his illness and he gets himself together and secures a decent contract back home.

He would have been a revelation playing for Saints.

The bad thing about this season is the start we have had, imagine how many more games we would of won with a good start high on confidence. We would not of seen the loss at Celtic either I don't think. We could be a few places higher up the table with a few more wins, if I was choosing between winning against sainst and being a little higher up the table I think I would rather be higher up the table.

May as well close the thread now. This post has summed it up perfectly..

hes out till the end of the season not playoffs if people wanna be picky

the season ends after the grand final, the 'regular season' ends after the final weekly rounds

if people wanna be picky

He's going back to Australia this week and i doubt he'll be coming back wheather we make the play offs or not.

No problems with taking the risk with Tim. He obviously has talent and put in some good performances last year in tandem with Trent Barratt, and some sublime passages of play this year, notably Murrayfield. However it didn't come off because of his weaknesses in defence and lack of a running game.

The sublime bits didn't compensate for his limited abilities but well worth the risk. I hope his stay over here has helped with his problem and wish him well back home.

How he managed to make such a name for himself in Australia with such a limited game, I'll never know.

Indeed. He didn't have a tactical kicking game either which is something our team is screaming for this year.

Because in the NRL, every member of your team has the ability to score if given the chance - Smith had the passing skills to give them that oppurtunity. Compare that with super league and not all teams can score from anywhere.

why would he go home

Because his contract will be up by the time he is fir and he wont be getting a new one?

Well I want to wish Timmy all the best, he didnt go aswel as he probably would have wanted over here and as well as we would have wanted, but that isnt becuasde of a lack of trying - he isnt suited to the English game unfortunately.

Always felt he could make something happen though when he was on the pitch, but his faults outnumbered his advantages.

All the best Timmy.

You can't say that.

I feel sorry for the lad that he's suffered an injury but as for a big loss to the team I don't think so, it pales into insignificance in regards to losing O'Loughlin and Mike as well as Hock of course.

he just did

All the Best Tim, hope you get sorted out in Aus after you recover from your injury

Worth the gamble? Definately; what have we lost?

Really disappointed that's he's out for the season. Now that he was fit, I think he would have noyed himself in the big end of the season with the hard pitches and good weather, and he could have really helped us to kick on.

He had some good games and some bad games and was a fantastic passer of the ball. With his illness he was always going to be a risky signing but with the amount of money we had available and the length of the deal he was worth the risk. We haven't really lost or gained much from him being here so I'm not too fussed either way that he has gone.

As far as recruitment policy goes I think we will have seen the last of the short term stop gap signings. At the time when we signed the likes of Smith on short deals we had little room under the cap due to expensive signings from the old regime. We had to pick up cheap players to use what money we had to fill out the squad until these big contracts were up and we had more freedom. Some have gone already and more will go this year and next so we can get the players we want and need rather than stop gap signings. Signing up of key players on long term deals has started under IL and this shows his intentions.

We should of gone all out for Dobson when we had the chance but we were left with the fall back-Smith. Took a gamble, didn't pay off. Good luck Timmy!

Great talent, showed glimpses at times but never quite hit the spot on every occasion.

I am sure he will be a success in the NRL.