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!