Waney won't play Hampshire in the halves so the only hope is he goes Tomkins at 6, Williams at 7 and Hampshire at 1. That trio would be devastating but I really doubt it'll happen.

He could move Sam Powell to 7

Does anybody else think he cost us that game?i don't like to blame individuals but I think his performance tonight was shocking and although not on a par with flowers last year was pretty bad.

It all started in the 5th minute. If he hadn't dropped the ball from the restart and Wigan had then had a good set of 6 and put in a reasonable kick, it would have been a totally different game! All ifs and buts, though, but the fact remains Wigan had taken the lead but then let Leeds get straight back on level terms - primarily because Smith made a schoolboy error. Professional rugby players, particularly scrum halves, should not drop a ball from a kick off, particularly on a dry light evening. And his kicking was just poor - as it has been for the majority of the season. Rocky has to be a better alternative with George going to 7.

He needs to move Sam Powell on to a lower level club, the guy is pants

I thought Clubb was completely anonymous for you guys. Also Tomkins didn't do much. Bateman was quiet also

Can't say I disagree but Wane seems to like him so it's put up or shut up.

Please note this thread is about Matty Smith though.

Maybe start another thread on that if you think it's worthy of discussion but this is about Matty Smith and that's how it shall stay.

I posted on here before the Hull game, drop him as a kick up the bum. Maybe if we had his form might have returned , but its not.
Hate to single him out from today , but its a season long thing. If we want to improve and progress , number 7 is a position that needs strengthening. Maybe keep Smith and transform him into a bench hooker/6 or 7 back up

Liam Farrell, George Williams and Matty Bowen were your standouts tonight. Everyone else were either decent or disappointing.

I've been annoying the hell out of the person I go to home games with about Matty Smith.

Constantly pointing out that he offers nothing to the team is irritating, apparently.

Sadly nothing has changed and I doubt he loses his shirt next season.

I noticed him twice - once for his knock-on which gave Leeds a comeback straight after we'd scored, and later in the 2nd half when he fumbled a pass in his own half, giving Leeds the ball back.

Forwards can be anonymous as drives and tackles can go un-noticed, but when one of your playmakers goes AWOL, it shows up.

Smith was by far the worst half back on the field tonight, compared him with Williams especially who was superb. Smith, the more experience should be in his pomp guiding you round the field leading from the front, crafting, probing, he , not for the first time in a big game for Wigan offered sod all. Wigan were a touch unlucky but all in all I think the future is pretty bright for you, especially if your coach acts on the AWOL 7 role.

For me it's more about what he didn't do than what he did do.

We made more than enough chances to win that game. But close in we look alarmingly incapable of opening even half-assed defences, so what chance a well-marshalled defence like last night? And ultimately the key to that is supposed to lie with your half-backs.

Exactly the same thing happened at St. Helens. We kept getting to their line but that was always the end of it.

He seems a smashing lad, Matty, but I just don't think he's got enough ideas. We can't go on failing to execute like this. Not after it's cost us a Grand Final. I don't know what the options are, but surely we are now considering some?

How long as Smith left on is contract, never like him lost us games when kicking for goal all we are short of is a decent half back to pare up with Williams ( Hampshire ) and a decent kicker.

offer Bowen another year , put Sam 6, Williams 7 and still have Smith and Hampshire as back ups ?

Clubb was ill for two days before the match and was on a glucose drip and perhaps shouldn't have played. I was surprised when he actually played.

Quote ="Ashton Bears"How long as Smith left on is contract, never like him lost us games when kicking for goal all we are short of is a decent half back to pare up with Williams ( Hampshire ) and a decent kicker.'" Smith signed a new 4 year contract last September. Daft decision in my eyes. It would no doubt have infuriated our academy players. www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors

Quote ="Ashton Bears"How long as Smith left on is contract, never like him lost us games when kicking for goal all we are short of is a decent half back to pare up with Williams ( Hampshire ) and a decent kicker.'" Smith signed a new 4 year contract last September. Daft decision in my eyes. It would no doubt have infuriated our academy players. www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors

I don't understand how Rocky can't buy a game in the halves whilst Smith remains undropable. He must be doing something I can't see because to be it looks like he often goes missing in attack, doesn't have any real flair when he does get involved and is a poor defender.

Defensively he's a worry and has gone backwards. He is getting swatted off with ease recently and has missed some big tackles.

I think last night proved just how much Matty is holding us back. He stuck out like a sore thumb and this guy is being trusted right in the middle to create things and control the game (which he fails to do every week)

I appreciate he gives 100% but a Matty Smith 100% just isn't good enough i am afraid and he is not only halting the progress of others in his position but is also halting the progress of the team from making the step up. Time to go. Waney needs to show some balls and pick the team with head over heart.

bump (just to help those merging threads)

I've just watched the game again. Smith had a poor game no doubt about it. I think he just lost his composure after dropping that kick off and then also Bowens pass.He hasn't got a running game so we needed him to give us direction with his passing and more importantly kicking, sadly he did neither. Looking at the match stats there is no way Wigan should have lost that game. www.superleague.co.uk/report/11372

I've just watched the game again. Smith had a poor game no doubt about it. I think he just lost his composure after dropping that kick off and then also Bowens pass.He hasn't got a running game so we needed him to give us direction with his passing and more importantly kicking, sadly he did neither. Looking at the match stats there is no way Wigan should have lost that game. www.superleague.co.uk/report/11372

Just popped on here to read your thoughts about last night. As a neutral I enjoyed the game.

As for Smith I think he is a decent player who obviously has a great attitude and is a good influence off the pitch too. It would be a mistake to have Williams and Hampshire as your halves. I don't think you can have two kids at half back and expect them to play well consistently, it would harm their development. I'd put Hampshire at full back next year with Williams and Tomkins in the halves and look for Hampshire to move up to stand off once Tomkins retires or moves on.

You are quite right, and if the two youngsters played together and fail, it will still be Wane's faulty for playing them.. He is in a very difficult position. I honestly think he would like to play them, but he has to win games.