I’m not just talking physical, I’m talking mental too. The lad was touted for years as “the best of his peer group” and “best young talent in the game”. Unless he’s had his head buried in the sand he will have known this. Has he had any obstacles in his rugby career growing up? The odd injury growing up is part and parcel of the game. How many times was he not the biggest/most skill full forward on the park? How many times did he come up against defences that kept him quiet and nullified his influence? For the last 3 years his initial attributes making him stand out at junior level are no longer an asset ie strength/speed/power. They all possess it! It’s this psychological factor that’s the big one for me. He’s got to learn to deal with it and increase his skill set, including areas he’s probably never had to use before

The problem with Smith is he probably still has the skills he just cannot execute them at the pace he needs to to be competitive at the elite level. He looks disinterested at Leeds - and needs a fresh environment.

Are you saying they have literally tried to make him a prop or just been bulking him up? It can be hard to adjust to a change in size/body for young rugby and particularly football players. That and bad injuries means he should be cut a bit of slack for mine. He is still 19 and I don't see many 19 year old forwards ripping up SL.

Both. But they cut back on the bulking I believe when the injuries were persisting.

When did they try to make him a prop exactly?? He's always played BR or on the odd occasion at 6?

Regardless of anything else He looks too short to be suited to be a modern prop. Hope he can stay injury free and maybe show some of the quality in the championship later in the season