Webb's on field antics still leave a lot to be desired judging by his latest efforts at the Halliwell-Jones - and while McDermott/Hetherington made the right call they probably did so reluctantly having finally run out of patience with the player.

If they could have trained his mind as well as his body I think he'd still be here.

.....and yet I remember him in a recent? (last season?) televised Sky match playing RC where he perfected a left step feign in and out with a lovely pass to his try scoring wingman.

Bluddy hell...if that's the case IMO there should be no hesitation with at least rewarding him with a bench spot this Friday. Personally with all the less than ideal options I would start him at FB, leaving Watkins to continue his development at RC.

whilst we are at it we should bring in Leroy Rivett as wing cover, he won a lance todd

Great example. A player who has missed the first three rounds with injury.

His weight, whatever it's worth, had recently been a lot greater than when he last earned individual bronze with us, 5 years ago wasn't it?

That would be my personal opinion. Look at tomkins. He got his chance through injury and never looked back. That said the coach see the players all week and will make the right call

Great example but timing maybe a little suspect this early in the seaon.

He was available this week. A little unlucky not to sore the winner against the league leaders, although the pass from Tim Smith could well have been forward.

Smith can't complain about having a lack of opportunities since he returned from Union.

Many of his latter appearances in a Leeds jersey he looked slow, unfit and disinterested. Can't say I've seen anything from him at Wakefield to make me think Leeds got it wrong.

You didn't see the Wakefield - Huddersfield game, did you Andy Gilder? In fact, exactly how much have you seen of Smith in the flesh since he was cut by Leeds ? Somewhere not far off "none at all" I'll wager?

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It's all relative but Smith was never a quickie so difficult to judge him on pace. Could slot in anywhere in the back division and played efficiently at acting half when asked to do so. Could have been an invaluable substitute when all backs available acting as relief hooker/cover for any in game three-quarter issues.

He was fit on Sunday but would he have been fit two days earlier; Friday? By fit, I mean healthy for selection because he hasn't looked fit since he left for Wasps.

lee smith left the rhinos to play rugger with wasps
as posted previously he was a very much larger shadow of his former self when he returned although never the same quality player that left

Vickery can supposedly play full back or centre as well as wing. I'm pretty sure he has said he prefers fullback.

I'd be tempted to give one of the younger players (wing or fullback) a bench spot against Sts, as we are one more injury away from having to throw someone in at the deep end. I'd prefer Watkins to stay at right centre as well, but our strongest backline with current in juries is the one that played the Storm.

If so it doesn't reflect too well on Leeds' planned recruitment

The club must be very extremely grateful for the individual initiative of a young man who thankfully chose Leeds to offer his services to

Your neglecting the fact that a player may not want to be a reserve at Leeds, and wants to play games. Your also neglecting the fact that Smith will have been on a fair chunk of salary cap, and to lose a decent wedge on a player not in the strongest 17 would be counter productive.

Yes, if he had stayed, he would have improved our squad these last few weeks, but then we may not have been able to afford the strength in depth of squad we have this year

As Lee Smith was under contract at Leeds for the 2013 season that money was already allocated at the time he was released. I've no idea who instigated the departure be it player or club or what the financial severance details were or their implication on the cap.

He would still have been around my 1st choice 17 for 2013 but so would Shaun Lunt, so I accept the argument that he (like others have done) would opt for regular 1st team rugby.



Strength in depth?

Even from just last season's squad Leeds have lost Lunt, Webb, Smith, Hauraki, Pitts, Ambler and Amor while bringing in Moon, Achurch and Vickery. One of those has never played 1st grade has he and he's a 23 year-old back.

If he had come through the Leeds Academy I suspect he'd have been shown the door several years ago.

It's been mentioned elsewhere recently how this alleged greatest ever Leeds squad according to the CEO compares to the one he assembled in 2010. Gone are Brent Webb, Scott Donald, Lee Smith (re-joined part way through that season), Keith Senior, Matt Diskin, Danny Buderus, Ali Lauitiiti, Luke Burgess and Greg Eastwood - replaced by Zak Hardaker, Joel Moon, Richard Moore, Darrell Griffin, Mitch Achurch, Joe Vickery and the promotion from within of Stevie Ward.

Some all-time Leeds greats and RL greats have moved on and been replaced - externally at least - by some pretty average League stars and there are noticeably fewer of them.