Maybe I’m being too kind but he’s hardly player there in his time here. Isa isn’t a centre by trade now but he was as a junior coming through in Oz and when he moved here, so it’s not totally alien to him either. Ultimately with Bibby he offers brilliant value. I’d imagine he’s not on a fortune and I think he’s a really good player for us. He has things to work on and if he can develop his passing game then great, if not then I’m still more than happy to have him in the squad.

Just seen the highlights on Wigan TV. We looked clunky in our execution but I’m not going to get into the ineptitude of Lam again. In all honesty I haven’t the energy to.

It wasn’t a game I’d ever expect us to lose in all seriousness. Salford are a poor side, poorly coached and a playing roster which is average - poor at best.

Smith looked lively though, perhaps someone who saw the game could confirm.

Back to rocks and diamonds with Smith. He made a couple of really poor errors and mixed them in with some outrageous bits of skill. His career here will be defined by his ability to shelve those errors. If he can do that then he could be a top class halfback.

And that for me is one of the frustration with Lam as a coach - he was a very fine half-back as a player so if there is any position you would expect he could make a difference in coaching it would be with half-backs but there doesn't seem to have been any significant improvement there.

Better than just rocks, to stick with your comparison, which he has been producing. He just needs a proper knowledgeable coach and he’ll be a fine HB. I’d have loved to have him coached under Iestyn Harris/Paul Deacon like GW had the fortune to experience (perhaps Deacon more than Harris).

But Lam was better than both?

As much as I don't like Lam, Harris didn't do much as a coach?

Wasn't there a story around Harris at the Grand Final where we were being convincingly beaten by Wire at half time? He was making noises around how poor it was going to be losing the final, did it within Waney's earshot as he was trying to rally his troops. Was told to leave the room and didn't last much longer at the club.

It’s a tough one. I don’t rate Lam in the slightest but the errors Smith produces are absolute basics of kicking out on the full, dropping passes cold or throwing wayward passes. There’s been times when that’s been because we’re on the back foot and he’s being pressed for time but he’s still made them in recent games, when in fairness I think our front row has really picked up and he’s been able to play a bit more on the front foot.

The good stuff he produces can be breathtaking but if he is to get to the very top (winning finals with Wigan and playing for England), he’s going to need to minimise the silly errors. If Waney is back in place next season and in a role where he will be working with the players on the training field and in video sessions, he’ll be so tough on him I’m sure. That could go either way.

I'd never heard that one tbh.

Has he had a coaching job since he left us?

My first time back in the ground for game in god knows how long, and i was bored, frustrated and annoyed at our performance.
Dunno if I'll be in rush to go back watching us especially with Lam in charge

That was early October 2013 and he was still with the club in Australia in February 2014 for the WCC . So probably BS

I agree with over Smith still young and learning but he really needs to cut the mistakes out the sooner the better

Not as a Head Coach no but as an actual assistant coach as well as Paul Deacon worked wonders for our attack. It’s no coincidence IMO that when they left out attack started to decline in quality.

It was our 4th game in 14 days what more do you expect

I just don't think we're comparing like for like here. I'm no Lam fan, but as an assistant he's won a world cup. Who's to say what he'd have been like as a no.2 behind Madge or Wane. We don't know and I don't think it's fair to compare.

The majority of us want Lam gone but I don't think that, from a Smith POV, he'd have been any better or worse with Harris or Deacon here. I like Smith and, like you, I'm not ready to give up on him but he's got plenty of support in Lam, Tommy and Hastings who are probably, along with Barrett, three of the best HBs the club's had in SL.

Good point well made in fairness.

Fair enough, someone told me the story not long after. Had no reason to question it at the time.

except Lam, Green, Finch, Williams, Sam, Smith (tony)....all are better than Tommy but quite a distance

Cool story. Unsurprising that, you being you, it's the one thing you got out of all of that post. Your post doesn't have any relevance to the discussion btw. None of the above are at the club - so what impact are they having on Smith's day to day development?

Just to be clear too, you know what an opinion is right? Also notice the word 'probably' and the phrase 'three of the best' and not 'the three best'.

Sam Tomkins has said in a recent podcast that Tommy Leuluai could be the coach of the year next season. He rates him that highly and said his understanding of the game is exceptional. Sam said he preps for a game and knows what his opposing player will do so plays with that in mind. He said TL does his prep and knows what every opposing player will do!
I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, the Harry Smith discussion above. TL must be working with Smith every day, yet as others have said, his game if littered with basic errors. Secondly, he’ll be on the coaching staff next year in a more formal capacity but I’m sure he’s contributing already, so hard to see Sam’s point?

me being me?



Barrett isnt at the club now but you mentioned him, I suspect he isnt having any impact on Smiths day to day either eh.....you said 3 of the best, I just named plenty who were better in superleague, so pretty much shows he isnt one of the best

Considering that the squad for the game was disrupted by Field, Hardacre, Smithies coming back from long term injuries, Bateman only having played for a couple of games or so, Partington and Singleton suspended and Gildart out injured which resulted in positional changes before and during the game, they did not play all that bad considering the circumstances of recent weeks.

Who be a Coach when you cannot select a the best and most consistent team playing in their best positions week by week because of continual injuries and suspensions.

We should be thankful that with all the injuries and suspensions plus Covid19 as well, we have been fortunate to having played all our games so far with what is a depleted squad which has also not been helped by the injury to French and the retirement of Manfredi

And yet

So we complain when players are missing through injury, but then, when they come back, it's a 'disruption'?

I’ve tried a few times now, even had my wife, brother, Dad and mates try and decipher what you’re saying but no one can.

- Are you saying that players coming back from injury are a disruption?
- Bateman has played in 9 matches this season.
- The mark of a good coach is one that gets the best of of all his squad, not those that are fully fit or are considered ‘the best’