I've been a critic, and to some extent I still am regarding his attacking threat, especially as a halfback. His work rate and defence are faultless, he just has too many games where he's ineffective with the ball. One swallow doesn't make a spring, I need to see more before I'm convinced he has a long term future. For the record I hope he has a blinder for the rest of the season.

It was very good rugby from Sam when he spotted McDonnell out of position, kicked through their defensive line, re-gathered and scored. Excellent was that!

It was his best game since the NZ Warriors warm up game before the Roosters WCC. At that time he really looked to be ready to start controlling games but he's been in and out ever since and a lack of minutes has plagued him.

Hope to see him kick on now because he could be a big weapon if he really starts to dictate that play the ball area and test defences with guile like that.

as a outsider I thought he was one of your best players

I think he is benefitting from MM being injured meaning he is getting the minutes to try and impose himself on the game. He's not had that previously and the game time has to make a difference. I don't think he can do that for the rest of the season without back up and will have to be rotated/rested from time to time.

Smith to 9, Williams 7, Tomkins 6 ?

Sure it's what a lot of fans would love to see, but I can't see it happening.

Smith will never get dropped/moved position.

Just thought it would be a decent line up if Powell were to get injured or Wane decides he needs a break.

I'd be inclined to keep Smith at 7 and Williams to rotate at 9. I don't think Williams is ready for the main organiser role yet.

Surely Tomkins would be the main organiser in that scenario?

A role he has never done.

Smith will be dropped or sold on when he is no longer any use to the coach. At the moment he has about one poor game (Widnes) in about eight or nine. He is consistently good enough to lead the team around as he did on Friday and yesterday (even though he was injured).

I wonder if those who reckon Ryan Hampshire is the second coming are perhaps revising their opinions given his rather insipid displays at Cas so far? Maybe Waney knows what he is doing after all?

One poor game, yes, but hand on heart, how many good ones? Watching Cas the other night, I wasn't so much concentrating on Hampshire as thinking how Gale looked twice the player Smith is. And I'm talking about 'good Smith', not 'bad Smith'.

I would tend to agree with this. Matty isn't a match winner, just a vital cog in the machine. It's teams that win trophies not collections of good individuals, and for whatever reason Waney thinks Matty is vital to Wigan. He obviously sees things that others do not. In these things I tend to respect his opinion, though I am well aware that is an unpopular view on here (though not with yourself).

For example Matty doesn't have the ability of Tommy, but I would argue that Matty is at least as effective because Tommy could never kick properly. I think Waney decided early on that a good kicker is more important than a couple of runners who can pass at half back. Tommy with Brett Finch for example was a pairing that never really worked for the simple reason that neither of them could kick to save their lives. Matty's passing isn't as poor as some on here make out either.

Gale has really improved at Cas, though he was very good at Bradford the year they went down. IIRC they beat us at Odsal and Gale was excellent.

For me, Matty Smith is a workhorse of dependability. He organises and runs a lot of the structure while rarely making a mistake. A team structure that hangs off a dependable pivot works well, a maverick not so well.

Smith simply isn't the kind of player who is going to rack up MOM performances regularly. He is a constant 7/10 player. IMO what he brings to the team is the stuff we as fans generally don't notice. Communication, organisation and an experienced head in the halves. If you think we look disjointed now I'd hate so see what we'd look like without him in the middle. As much as I'd love a Williams & Hampshire partnership we simply can't run with 2 kids in the halves. There will be a time when Matty is surplus to requirements but Williams will need a couple more seasons under his belt before we can contemplate him playing Matty's role on a regular basis.

I'd argue he's more a constant 6/10 player who is 3/10 on a bad day or 7/10 on his very best days. I seriously doubt any other top 8 team want him as their first choice scrum half, or some of the bottom 4 sides either. Does anyone know when his contract is up?

Smith hasn't played well for a long time and seems to lose confidence in the rest of his game when he misses goal kicks. For that reason I'd give the goal kicking to someone else.

Who?

Personally I might give Sam Powell a try at it. But then the anti-Wane brigade wouldn't have Sam anywhere near the first team, so don't expect an answer too soon. As Leeds are finding out just now it's difficult to replace a superb kicker with someone who is both good enough to get in the first 13 and who kicks at 80%.

Leeds seem to be having numerous issues, difficult time for them.

Another 55 tackles last night but he missed 1, get him sold www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... info/10920

Another 55 tackles last night but he missed 1, get him sold www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... info/10920

I have been impressed with Powell. The issue, at the moment, is that he cannot turn a game on his own. We are doing well without much magic in the side. We do not have a set of barnstorming props to always get us a few yards and we are lacking creativity in the backs. This injury crisis means that we have top rely on steady players to grind out wins. My worry is that we ruin the careers of promising youngsters through our massive over expectations. Already on another thread some are slagging off the very young lads for not being the finished article rather than seeing the positives.

I agree with everything you've said. As he settles into the role of first choice hooker I think his confidence will build and improve his kicking from dummy half.