[url=http://www.richardlanephotography.co.uk/search/results.ehtml?searchtype=advanced;search=1;fixture_id=5498;x=30;y=6&page=1Debut pictures[/url.

I just don't think he'll ever hack it as an outstanding centre in league - maybe in Union.

Sums up life as a Yawnion winger...gets his hands on the ball in the warm up and then waits on the wing for 80 mins making the odd supporting run to keep warm but with no real expectation of receiving the ball.

[size=75(I filled in on the wing a couple of times when at school - never been so cold in all my life)[/size

I think he could play wing ok. I'd agree he isn't blindingly quick although he's certainly not slow. What you don't mention is his awareness of space and his anticipation, particularly of kicks (both grubbers and aerial). Given the scarcity of tries in the ru prem, I don't think there's many wingers who will become stars in the foreseeable, particularly if they're dependent on chances created in the conventional way where the ball's shipped through the backs. Where Smith may stand out is by taking advantage of attacking kicks and by surprising defences in broken play.

It's noted you didn't go looking for the ball then.

Didn't particularly want my head stamped on (besides the frostbite made it hard to run after the first half an hour)



Back then a union winger was expected to hug the touchline for the whole game in both attack and defence (nobody seemed to notice/care that this effectively made the game 13 a side on a 30 meter wide pitch) .

Can't be easy with 16 lardar$es lying on top of it

Give him time to settle in and he'll be the equal of the latter two, certainly.

Foden's way too flaky to play 15 at international level, although if Ugo Monye can get (half) a game there then anyone can.

On the subject of blinding pace, I wouldn't say Smith was particularly slower than Matt Banahan for example.

Let's face it there aren't many Brian Habanah's in either code.

Habana's a bit special, his balance and acceleration are exceptional and he's not afraid of the physical side of the game either.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8397821.stmQuite.[/url

Interesting in that clip that the intercepted pass was thrown by McAlister(sp?) who was born here when his dad Charlie played for Oldham I think.
I always remember that he had the biggest thighs I've ever seen. Their shorts had a thin white stripe down except in Charlie's case when it seemed to be about a foot wide.
McAlister junior played for Sale & I always thought he'd have made a good RL centre but the lure of playing for the All Blacks took him back to NZ.