From a Wigan perspective, I think Williams was largely anonymous in the early season and put all responsibility on Smith(possibly contributing to his early poor performances) but as the pitches have hardened and he's settled more into the 6 role he's looking a class act. Everytime I've seen Sutcliffe which is obviously just the sky games, he's really impressed me, bar the Warrington game where I think the whole Leeds team just didn't show up, not just Sutcliffe. Not sure how many SL games both have played, but excellent prospects for both sides.

The interesting thing is that Wigan still have Hampshire who is probably a better natural #6 than either Wiliams or Sutcliffe. He outplayed Sutcliffe at u19 academy level. At the moment both Williams and Sutcliffe are better developed physically but that should change over the next two or three years. I've always thought that Sutcliffe would make an excellent #13.

It'll be interesting to see what Wane does next year when Tomkins returns, to have his and Hampshires pace in the side will cause a lot of problems for the opposition.

I too see Sutcliffe moving up to 13.
If I was Wane I'd play Williams & Hampshire at 6&7 next season & get rid of Smith. He reminds me of Deacon without the kicking ability. He always gives the impression of getting through a ton of work but produces very little of quality.

I think Williams #7 and Hampshire #6 is a bit risky so soon. We tried it a few years back with Brown and Robinson, and Saints did the same with Gaskell and Lomax. All were very good players but weren't quite ready for that step up together. If you remember Leeds with Burrow and McGuire, they brought in Andrew Dunemann for around three years to allow the young halfbacks time to bed in, so they were around 22/23 years of age before they became the chosen pair. Williams and Hampshire are still only 20.

I couldn't see Wigan dropping Smith just like that anyway. Looks like it'll be a case of biding his time for Hampshire next season with the return of S.Tomkins to FB.

How are you for wingers with Burgess leaving? I know Charnley and Manfredi will be the starters but what's after that (considering Charnley does seem to pick up a few injuries nowadays)? Would he throw Hampshire on the wing whenever of those were missing?

I would cash in on Smith, as Cas did with Sneyd, while there are still some deluded fools who think he is an international HB. You could bring in Douglas Bader for a year to do what Smith does if you want to wait.

Bader's a good prospect Tigertot but he just doesn't have the legs.

I don't get the idea of Sutcliffe to 13 at all. He's a big stand off - like several great players have been before him. The ball-handling 13 is a dying breed, and not soon enough for me.

Wait until Cameron Smith finally gets his chance, you might change your mind. There you will get a ball handler along with a big unit. There is never a dying breed to a ball handler, every player in the team in every position should have those skills. Only the Aussies have moved people's perceptions away from that, with their boring one out plays.

It's all about finding a balance in your side.

Leeds managed to be successful for a number of years with Sinfleld, Burrow and McGuire because the latter two were more effective as runners than ball players. Sinfield was the pivot the team revolved around and took some of the responsibility off them.

With a 6 or 7 that is more of a running threat than a ball player in the side - someone like Hampshire or a Ryan Brierley for example - having a ball player at 13 gives them the licence to play with the shackles off rather than having to organise the team around them.

The challenge for me is where Leeds fit Sutcliffe and Cameron Smith into the same side. If Smith continues to develop physically, he's going to be a monster. He'll have the physique of a front rower but with the ball skills of a half-back. The ideal loose forward in many ways, who can challenge the line both with his carries and with what he can do with the ball.

Do you want him being saddled with the additional burden of having to organise the team around him though? Or do you ask Sutcliffe to play stand-off and be the dominant voice in the team?

Alternatively, is that where Jordan Lilley fits in to that midfield triangle. Someone to act as the organiser, the pivot, the Sinfield role if you like which allows Sutcliffe and Smith to be more of a running threat as McGuire and Burrow were.

I think i could possibly see a switch to 13 in the future for Sutcliffe but his role in this Leeds team for the foreseeable future should be at 6 and he is coming along very nicely so far.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Cam Smith as wide running BR ,Sutty at 13 Brierley at 6 and Lilley at 7 eventually but IF rumours are true we have another HB inbound so something will have to give.
I honestly think IF CS continues his growth and potential you can virtually play him anywhere in the Pack and he'll be very good at it.