Itchy> This game seems to be youtube already. Really good performances at 1, 6, and 7. Well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Purg4HR94 I reckon all the NRL games plus international and SoO on my laptop for eleven quid a month, or whatever it is, is a bargain, especially compared to the drivel you have to listen to on Sky. Although don't get me wrong, the Aussies have their share of dull clunkers just like we do. But sometimes... I was going to ask about the chippy too!

Itchy> This game seems to be youtube already. Really good performances at 1, 6, and 7. Well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Purg4HR94 I reckon all the NRL games plus international and SoO on my laptop for eleven quid a month, or whatever it is, is a bargain, especially compared to the drivel you have to listen to on Sky. Although don't get me wrong, the Aussies have their share of dull clunkers just like we do. But sometimes... I was going to ask about the chippy too!

There's two ways to ask this question.

1. Is he good enough?
2. Is he the right player for Wigan?

I'd sooner answer number 2. Answer is, no I don't think he is, but that's not his fault. Wane and IL haven't replaced Green with a like for like. Williams is good, but he's no Blake Green or Brett Finch. Smith needs a player of that caliber to allow him do what he does well. Now he doesn't have that he's exposed for what he is, limited and good for certain things.

Smith can get by with talent around him, he can do the basics very well, and that works in the right environment, remove the talent from around him and rely on him to create and it's game over.

Is he even good at the basics?

For about 18 months now his passing has been poor, he drops easy catches, tackling is average and his kicking from hands is nothing short of a disgrace. Not to mention his lack of pace, footwork and inability to put a player through a gap. Goal kicking has improved a bit I guess.

Have to agree with that. Despite all the comments about the low standard in SL, the sad fact is, *most* SL sides seem to have a better 7 than Smith.

I agree. It surely must reveal something when his best two performances since signing for us have been played in poor weather conditions.

Hull FC - Challenge Cup Final (Lance Todd)
Third Test versus NZ last year. (MOM)

Now for these awards did he score spectacular tries? No
Did he put players into space to score? No

Instead he calmed things down, took control of ball distribution (nothing fancy like) and his place kicking suffocated the opposition to death...that was about it.

I will admit that his two drop goals in the final 5 minutes against Hull was outstanding, but we were well in a position to win that game with ease and let Hull back in.

Quote ="moto748"Itchy> This game seems to be youtube already. Really good performances at 1, 6, and 7. Well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Purg4HR94 I reckon all the NRL games plus international and SoO on my laptop for eleven quid a month, or whatever it is, is a bargain, especially compared to the drivel you have to listen to on Sky. Although don't get me wrong, the Aussies have their share of dull clunkers just like we do. But sometimes... I was going to ask about the chippy too! '" Only watched the first half so far but very enjoyable. The Wests half backs look superior so far but a good fight back from Manley. Cheers for the link its greatly appreciated. When you travel on a Friday I think the chippy shuts around 6ish which maybe too early for you with your long journey but worth the effort if you can make it. I think the street is Grosvenor Street (sp?)

Quote ="moto748"Itchy> This game seems to be youtube already. Really good performances at 1, 6, and 7. Well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Purg4HR94 I reckon all the NRL games plus international and SoO on my laptop for eleven quid a month, or whatever it is, is a bargain, especially compared to the drivel you have to listen to on Sky. Although don't get me wrong, the Aussies have their share of dull clunkers just like we do. But sometimes... I was going to ask about the chippy too! '" Only watched the first half so far but very enjoyable. The Wests half backs look superior so far but a good fight back from Manley. Cheers for the link its greatly appreciated. When you travel on a Friday I think the chippy shuts around 6ish which maybe too early for you with your long journey but worth the effort if you can make it. I think the street is Grosvenor Street (sp?)

The good stuff continues in the second half, Itchy. Tedesco is a bit special.

Yeah, 6 might be a bit early on a 'normal' Friday, but Good Friday with the afternoon KO means an early start. I took my bike to be serviced this morning, and I was assured I'd get it back by Wednesday. Else it'll be the train, but either way I'd prefer to have time to drop by bags and stuff off at the hotel in Wigan before heading to Saints.

On that, I thought at the time of the WCC games that one of the things England fans always used to console themselves with years ago was the idea that at least we played 'proper' rugby, with forwards and backs all having their own roles, whereas the NRL produced large powerful 'everymen', combined second rower and centre, the likes of Matt Gilett say, or Joel Thompson. But the Cowboys beat Leeds by their magnificent forwards providing the platform for JT to his stuff, and the other two games went likewise. And other currently successful teams in the NRL like the Tigers are doing likewise. The point, of course, is to have the halves and outside backs with the wit and skill to take advantage of that platform.

Tedesco has had appalling luck with serious injuries, he's missed whole seasons before I think, leading to fears he'd lose his electrifying pace, but fortunately he still has it.

I think it's great that Wigan keep persevering with Smith.
He's rubbish!

Thought Sargo had his worst game for us.
And Smith...does he get a prize for every kick-in-play that goes straight down the throat of the oppo?

Sarginson is a real threat from full back but his game has been littered with errors in the two games to date. If he can get rid of them is say it looks to be his natural position.

I think it's more so we're getting over the advantage line straight away. If we pass it deep an energetic defence will turn that into lost yards pretty quick, then all the momentum goes to the defence and the rest of our set gets a lot harder.

If you lie flat it gives the defenders time to get in your face, it also leads to hurried passes which itself leads to the ball going to ground or worse still finishing behind the player the pass was intended for.
When you lie that bit deeper it gives you time to get up to speed and also puts the defenders in two minds, making them think are you going to put some one inside of you or give a short pass for someone to go through on the outside of you.

If you want an example of what I am saying watch the under 19s, in the match at the weekend a lot of the tries came from players cutting back against the grain.

Maybe the senior coaches should watch it to.

The U19's play to exactly the same structure as the 1st team. You most also realise that London aren't really a team to be bench-marked against at that level.

Rouges I know it was only against London, but it was lads in the same age group and I don't think they stick so strictly to the system, they seem to have more licence to express themselves. Which is something all young lads will try to do until it is coached out of them. Cheers.

I haven't had chance yet to watch the U19s but agree with you 100% on that we are far too flat and we should lie much deeper than we do. We did this on a regular basis until the last couple of seasons.
We also hardly ever dummy runners these days as well.
I watched highlights the other day of the 2013 GF and our passing, running and playing from deep was much more fluent than our current style.

How do expect Smith to play with no partner
Playing a 13 at 6 what were you thinking

how you ever gonna win anything like that?
Wait... forget that...


In all seriousness, smith is a fine player to steady a ship but he needs someone to create outside him or he looks very average
I still think he is good enough for wigan though, how many halves in SL can organise/run the game AND create?
For me its only 4: Gale, Mcguire (only in the past couple of years), Carney (when he can be bothered), and Brough, Brown is borderline but struggles to run games at times

Crap as usual, rubbish kicking and pathetic defense...

Again great to see the anti Smith gang out in force again this years scapegoat when anything goes wrong ....... Who's next then to have a bad game n get slated .....

I thought all of the team played well today manfredi of course the stand out player but I did not see anyone have as some suggest a terrible game ... But hey hoe each to there own deluded opinion I believe

Ziggy have you ever played the game and stopped a forward a lot bigger than you running at speed ????? Perhaps not time to smell the coffee and wake up like others on here the SL standard has gone poor and in his defence he is the only pivotal player playing in there correct position. Look at Salford Lui is out and they have now lost 2 from 2 since his injury not many teams can lose full back / loose forward not playing in his own position but stand off / first choice hooker injured and no natural loose forward and still win games...

Say you break the components of a half-backs game down: short kicking game, long kicking game, running game, passing game, defence. It's only the long kicking game with Smith that ever looks good, and some of the other sectors are almost completely missing. As was the case yesterday.

There seems to be a real link with Smith between his goal kicking and his general form. He had a poor night with the boot last week and his overall performance was very poor. He again started badly with the boot yesterday and it took him a while to recover his performance that ended up being ok.

I love his passion but you do wonder if he's going to get his form of 2013 back. I'd be more confident if we could pull a goal kicker from somewhere to ease the pressure on him.

Thought he came back from his nightmare game last week pretty well. (So it should against his hometown team). More of that please!