Also Tommy is a better 9 than 7.

We are really going to miss that, he can play a solid 7 during the game then when he switches to 9 his entusiasm levels go up another gear, I can't think of that many players who can do that.
If Smith can do the same swap from 7-9 during a match it might be enough to win the "big" matches, however if he can change gear as well, the sky is the limit.
I think he has it in him, Waney needs to have the team structured on him being able to make the switch and encourage the lad. Smith loves his rugby and it shows
We also need Logan to come good next year

Since it was rumoured that we'd signed Smith, Salford and Saints fans told us repeatedly that he "didn't take on the line".
He'd a decent passing game, kicking game ok but never takes on the line. That was the perceived wisdom.
How wrong they were.
Looks like he could be a very good signing indeed!

I've been impressed with Smith! As previous posters have said the parts of his game that I questioned before he came to Wigan was his ability to take on the line and his defence. I thought he was just going to be a very safe signing, someone who would fit into our structures and wouldn't be a flashy player.

So far I have been proved wrong and he has been a superb addition to the squad. Only thing I fear now is, who will be alongside him next year. Yes Powell had a great debut but if we want to be challenging for trophies next season I don't think a half-back partnership of Smith and Powell will be strong enough.

That's has exactly how he was when he left, although his passing game was always better then decent. He's definitely gone up another gear over the past year or so.

If we see Leuluai again this year I'd certainly be looking to start him on the bench and rotate him with Micky Mac. He's a top class hooker and would be a brilliant option for us. I just can't see how we could leave Smith out if he continues to play like this because he's adding a lot to the team with his kicking game as well as his passing and running.

I can't wait to see us run out with a full team this year. If we had everyone available Richards will buy us 4-6 points extra per game with his goal kicking and we'll be able to field a stunning bench of Lima, Prescott, Farrell and Leuluai....that would be immense.

In fairness with smith saints letting him go was one of their biggest mistakes in the past few years I'm sure they'll know that now.

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Goulding
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Finch
7. Smith
8. Prescott
9. McIlorum
10. Mossop
11. Hansen
12. Hock
13. O'Loughlin

14. Lima
15. Lauaki
16. Farrell
17. Leuluai

If everyone can get back to fitness that's a bloody good team right there!

Leuluai starting and Smith on the bench and you have the best starting 13 in Super League and I probably go far as too say the best starting 13 in Super League History.

Could also add Fielden into that if he can get back fit!

calm down - you have to win titles before you can claim to be the best.
it MIGHT be wigan's best SL team but not by a long chalk the best in SL ever.

I thought he would do well in your set up and it seems like he has made a good start for you lot.

Maybe a bit early to be saying this though...

Smith is the only one with a proper kicking game (except for the mistake on Friday), and that will get better with help from Harris and Deacon.

I hope he masters the sneaky kick from dummy half on the 4th tackle when he switches to 9 during the game. That as always been a good tactic in the big games and has served wigan well in playoff games

It's a good team but i'd dare to say that it's not as good as the one we won the league with 2 seasons ago.

maybe so, but we can only really answer that in October
However, I maintain that our SL1 team is better than either of these recent teams. WHAT A SET OF BACKS !
Only really let down in the 2nd row.

1 Radders
2 Billy
3 Inga
4 Connolly
5 Offiah
6 Paul
7 Edwards
8 Skerrett
9 Hall
10 OConnor
11 Haughton
12 Cassidy
13 Faz

14 Quinnell
15 Cowie
16 Paul Johnson
17 Andy Johnson
(you could have Mr Long if you wanted to as well)

I was very happy about the Smith signing, I could never understand why he wasn't sort after after he left Saints.
He ticks most if not all the boxes, he's young but yet has experience, he's British, and appears to be a top notch professional.
He controls the game very well from HB, clearly understands the requirements of a 7. His kicking game, patience and reading of the game is excellent. IMO one of the best signings we've made for a long time, he's someone who I can see at the club for years a years.

i think he was referring to eastmond leaving rather than smith being particularly good.

Yeah bit of both really. He is decent but had Eastmond stayed and been free from injury then I'd have chosen Eastmond too looking at his union situation though now being injured a lot smith leaving would probably still have been a bad idea. Looking at coaching setups (long at Salford and obviously wigans too) he's probably better than he would've ended up staying at saints.

Other than a cameo at hooker against Wakey it was the first time I saw him play on Friday and I thought he was superb. More of the same please Matty.

Category 328946 fan...........

bump.

sorry if this derails the thread but it looked as if every one had there say, and instead of opening a new thread thought it may be best to say on here.

well after just looking back and reading some of the guff saints fans have said, such as its a sad day when hes the only stand off worth chasing and that they didn't make an offer for him (Redvee).

so here is my question of what we have seen so far would you swap him for any of the saints halves? jonny Lomax, lee gaskell, pants or gary wheeler?

Smith is 25 and a seasoned pro yet the 3 halves mentioned are 20-22 and still developing, from what I've seen I think Lee Gaskell and Gary Wheeler have more talent and ability than Smith but at present standard of play I'd take Matty he is a mature play maker forged through greater first team experience. I must say I really do rate Matty Smith and I feel he has a big future at Wigan but I just think Lee Gaskell and Gary Wheeler have potential to be better players but they aren't there yet.

Lomax I'm convinced is out of position at halfback and if he isn't he simply must have an organising halfback alongside him.

Gaskell is a good player but he's a few years behind Smith in his development. Infact he won't develop full stop unless he starts to get some games.

Wheeler has gone off the rails totally. He looked a real talent a few seasons back but now looks an overweight has been at the age of 23ish. He is one player I believe Nathan Brown will turn round though.

As for Hohiha what can we say? He's been truely awful. He like Lomax is probably out of position but still you'd expect more.

To sum up Smith will do very nicely.

Smith all day long!