Smith's performance on Friday was far better than anything Seniors done this year.

But let's just live in the past eh?

Its not just about what Senior did 'directly'. Smith is a good centre no doubt, but from an oppositions point of view doesn't need anywhere near as much attention in terms of marking. Senior (despite his mistakes) did require additional marking, leaving a bit more room for others (usually Hall) to work with.

I agree Senior is to a degree 'the past' but sadly he is our best centre, and we will continue to miss him IMO. The 2 games we have played in his absense only confirm this to me.

They confirm nothing. How does playing against Bradford, Crusaders, Harlequins, compare to playing against Warrington and Saints?

Smith looked better on Friday despite the result, than Senior has done all year. Therefore I dissagree with your statement of Senior is our best centre. Not convinced Smith is the long term answer at centre though.

A game is a game, regardless of opposition. EVERY team wants to beat Leeds as (for some reason) we're still seen as a bench mark team. Teams are beating each other all over the shop this season - who would have forseen a Catalan double over the champions, the same Catalan team that we dispatched with no problem?

Smith will do a decent job at centre, due to his versatility. Personally I prefer him at FB, but since we've a multitude of options there its unlikely Smith will get much of a look in. That said, I for one would still like to have Senior available for selection. I just hope there are some 3/4 signings in the bag for next year but I'm not holding my breath

Do you seriously think having Senior for the last 2 matches would of made a difference?
If you do then look back to his prior efforts against Wire and Saints earlie in the season and look at how other teams have targetted him.
A leeds legend but thats just it a legend who's time is up now.

Agree. Interesting that even when he's not playing he's still a scapegoat.

Seconded

Of course it would, we'd have lost by more!

Impossible to say if Senior would have made any significant difference, certainly couldn't have made things any worse. The results since his injury suggest we are missing him. Warrington, fair enough, a good team who walloped us, but Saints were far from full strength whilst we were(apart from Senior) yet we had a distinct lack of attacking venom. As you say, he is a targetted man, which invariably leaves gaps elsewhere for others to pursue. That is why I believe it would be useful to still have him around. Its more an indication of our lack of decent centres than anything else but he is missed.

In the 1st half, I think that Senior's size may have helped him get over the try line whereas Saints were able to bundle Smith over the touch line in goal.

Not even the most clueless Leeds fan sees us as a "benchmark team," far less the opposition. And on this seasons performances, Keef kept his spot simply because we are totally lacking in having a quality centre to challenge him.

And no, I don't see Lee Smith as the answer either.

Was it?

I only watched the game once but I can't recall any positive contribution whatsoever from him. I don't recall many glaring errors either mind.

You kind of answered your own question at the end there then. So as we were.

Smith isn't the answer but is probably the best option we have at the moment

Sums up the season to date does that.