No. Prior to being given the number three shirt at Leeds Lee Smith had never started a first grade game for the club at right centre. His two previous Leeds games at centre were on the left

He's always looked more comfortable at full back to me than on the wing. Centre doesn't really come into it at this point based on his four appearances there against the twenty two at full back and fifty three on the wing. The full back position allowed him greater opportunity to be involved in the play where his work rate can be best utilised.




Unproven? Brent Webb is in his third season so injury aside Smith isn't going to be first choice full back at this point at the club. In the meantime (during Webb's tenure) Smith has played thirty nine times on the right wing - Hall twenty two and Gibson five - and gained International recognition under Tony Smith in that position.



Victim of circumstance. Prior to Webb's injury at the end of last season he had played the previous seven on the right wing and would presumably have got the GF gig there also but for Webb's back injury in training. Hall has grabbed his opportunity with both hands though and come on in leaps and bounds this season leaving Smith needing to carve out the right centre spot as you say.



I don't see Gibson at Headingley after his current contract expires this season and Watkins (as I've consistently stated on here) is eighteen months away from being ready (for me) for the week in week out grind of SL, leaving McClennan to use him sparingly this season. Unfortunately as SL evens out the easier Watkins type games haven't worked out that way. What we have at Headingley is seven names to fill the five positions but I'd stop short of calling that true competition.



Because the right side defence was an acknowledged weakness, both within the game and within the club (hence the reasoning behind the Donald switch to his opposite wing of choice for this season.) The obvious solution to the problem (while Watkins becomes ready to replace Senior on the left - that's a plan that works for me) was to source a ready made right centre for this season using some of the spare cap money available to the club. Then Smith (and Hall) could have provided some serious competition and back up to the three-quarter line. Building on recent successes (rather than resting on their laurels with cap money sat in the bank gathering dust) would have been my way to go had I been the CEO.

Always? Even in 2006 when he was displaced by Tansey? That you would say that doesn't speak volumes for his wing play but I agree, recently, full back has looked his best position.


Yes, unproven. As you have shown, during Webb's tenure, he has failed to cement the wing spot as his own, unlike Hall this year who has made himself pretty much un-droppable on the wing.


You seem to be in agreement with me here. As you say, had Webb not got injured Smith might've had a chance to cement that right wing spot. Now, because of circumstances not of Smith's making, he needs to cement the right centre spot, as Hall has sewn up the wing.



How is it not. Yes, nobody has yet won the competition for the right centre but the competition is there. Hopefully, Smith will nail it but if not I am sure Watkins and Gibson will be itching for another chance. How is that not competition?



The right side defence was not necessarily acknowledged as a weakness. They wanted to strengthen it. It wasn't a strength.

Sourcing a ready made right centre is an obvious and easy solution. They did make efforts to land one (Soliola). That didn't come off. They may have other irons in the fire so felt singing whatever and whoever was available would not be necessary or even an upgrade on what we have.

There's a dearth of quality centres out there. That why our main rivals for trophies have thrown an ageing 2nd rower and then an inexperienced stand off in there this year.

Of course, if you were CEO these wonderful right cenrtes would've become readily available right now I assume.

What price a modern day Rob Ackerman to solve all woes?

Ahhh if only. Ackerman in the right centre and Norman Francis outside him and we'd be unstoppable.

And, linking threads, some lower league gem like Ian Scott to dominate opposing packs.

yes but you'd need an old head like Mick Worrall to lead the pack.......

Alongside Steve Parrish & Neil Battye?

They would set the platform for a quality half back like Chris Vasey to run amock.

You'll have to take that up with Tony Smith. If I had been the coach I'd have chosen Smith over Tansey in that position (based on their respective performances on the field) every day of the week. Of Course as the coach I'd have a whole lot more information to consider rather than just the eighty minutes showtime and that would also need taking into consideration. Perhaps I'd have never selected Smith again..... perhaps.




An International wingman (selected by Tony Smith) shouldn't really be unproven in the position. Who is Hall's competition for the left wing spot? Smith - (busy covering other positions when he's not been injured), eh Watkins/Gibson/Broughton... no I'm struggling to find someone, anyone. Hall has cemented the position and let no-one down, which is just as well given the options available to the club.




Gibson has not developed physically and appears prone to injury absences (currently on the latest in a long line) and Watkins has not shown the form or consistency to mount a serious challenge. A view seemingly backed up by reports at reserve level. I sense a player who has been pressurised by unrealistic expectations at this point in his fledgeling career. His time will come but it's not his time yet. I like what Huddersfield have done with Greg McNally and feel Watkins would benefit from a similar move into the Championship to continue his education.



In essence the same thing. Tony Rea exposed it as a weakness, an area where Leeds were vulnerable, was he wrong? Why did coach McClennan break up the goto partnership on the left if the right was already neutral. That would be a truely bizarre decision on his part.



The NRL is full of talented centres. Soliola would have been a blinding capture. Leeds targetting of him says more than I could about the need to recruit a right centre. Where they fell down was not looking elsewhere when the Soliola deal fell through. Identifying an area that needed attention and then failing to fill it was a failing of the off season recruitment needs of the squad.



They wouldn't need to be that wonderful to be considerably better than the four options Leeds have at right centre this season. Given the remit from the Chairman to find one I'd be disappointed to come back empty handed.

Add in a couple of world class union converts like Sateki Tuipolotu and Japie Mulder and I think you have a world class team right there.

Some very intelligent perspicacious guys on here...at the risk of being sesquipedalian, it's always a pleasure to read such well weighted considered profundities.

david heselwood? morvin edwards?