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.

He was a fall back signing due to his off field issues which are not hes fault.

But IMO Smith is far and away a better scrum half than Dobson.and without his issues i would have picked him every time over Dobson and many others in SL

Bottom line is, I'm looking at your league table and im thinking 4 points or 2 points? Those extra two points put us above warrington.

but still, best of luck Timmy

if you put smith into a strong team with a good defence, alongside a big running 6 he would look world class every day of the week.

If he lined up instead of sean long in saints team he'd look a world beater, but he's just not a very good fit for our team.

I would go as far as calling him a "luxury" scrum half, if the rest of your team is solid and working well, he can give you the extra quality pass every day of the week.

All the skill in the world but no pace whatso ever, would of been a world beater in a good team and unfortunately we are not a good team at the min.

Overall, not that impressive. Outshined week on week by a young kid in his debut season with bags of enthusiasm and pride playing for his hometown team. Wont be missed.

hard to say really, he wasn't here long enough to really evaluate. But he didn't have the best of starts, blew hot and col.

but thanks for the effort and good luck in the future.

Surely he'll stay long enough, so see if we get to wembley?

He was crap.

He played like a pansy, and tackled like a 3 year old girl.

Good riddance.

With Barratt's, Higham and Calders wages free for 2009 I don't see why we needed a cheap player at all.

Rather IMO he was available and the club took a risk. Recruiting a player for a season and a bit which is all this ever was never struck me as a bright idea especially in the half backs whatever the reason.



Not many (thought to be on high-wages) players leaving again this season though Hock's demise will free up more money than was previously available but that is hardly a good thing given he was our best player.

Recruitment needs to address the needs of the team which IMO it has not recently. We have brought in outside backs when a prop and a true replacement half back was needed.

Dave

Great passer of a ball but looked genuinely terrified of tackling.

You won't miss him.

IMO it was his lack of pace that made him easily exposed defensively.

Possibly, but there are much slower players about who don't look so abject in that dept.