Re Lee Smith, am I correct in thinking that when Tony Smith coached the international squad he used Smith as an impact hooker or at least dummy half off the bench?
Or was it Cullen when he coached England under Smith (Tony not Lee)?

Smith's last appearance at international level was at right centre IIRC against Australia at Wigan.

Can't remember him being used in the dummy half role at that level.

Ashley Gibson was used as a dummy half off the bench IIRC when he played for England in the European Championships - when England was the second tier national side.

I hope Smith sorts his attitude out because he deffinately has the talent. Also means that our back line, baring Possible injuries to Watkins, should be set for the next 4 or 5 years.

As for Clarkson, I'm a fan of his and his work rate is awesome, but I think he moved away from a few of the things he did well in his rookie year last season. What really impressed me in his first year was the lines he picked and the holes he hit. Last year he seemed to move away from that and wasn't too effective with ball in hand. For a guy of his size he really needs to get back to that 1st season gap running style.

The person I'm most looking forward to seeing though is Zak Hardaker. By far the best young talent I have seen at Headingley in the 17 years I have been watching Leeds. If he continues his development he will be a star for years to come. Well worth the reported 100k fee too if you ask me.

One to watch? Aside from the ones who have been to watch for many years, who I wouldn't want to forget....

Hardaker finished last season really well, and if he kicks on he could be one to get excited about. Likewise Kallum Watkins if he can get injury free. I think his biggest problem when he does play is a touch of inexperience, and a good run in the side would go a long way to iron that out. Elsewhere in the backline, BJB also needs a bit of fine-tuning but is an exciting prospect.

On the subject of Stevie Ward, I haven't seen any academy games for a while, but the news is that he's got all the makings of a big star. My only advice would be, as is the case with any promising youngster, that you bring them into the team at a rate that suits their own physical development. It isn't purely an age thing, so you can't just say "so and so played 72 matches a year when he was 9" or similar. Young players mature physically at different ages. If he's ready, give him a run, if he needs to be brought on slowly, let's not panic. If he's going to be a super star he'll be around for a lot of years, there's no rush.

A fair few posters make this point. Any evidence to support the notion that it's Smith's attitude that's the problem? Or any to support the notion that he's still got the talent, come to that?

It may not be his attitude, could be something else, but his fitness appears to have declined rather markedly since 2009. Be it attitude, injury, something outside work or whatever, something caused that, and I hope it can be resolved.

I still hold the view that talent (natural ability) is not something you lose. You can lose form, you can lose focus, you can lose fitness, you can get out of practice, you can lose confidence, but talent by its nature is hard-wired and I don't believe you lose it. You only lose the ability to use it.

Hmmm...maybe...

That's a moot point. How can anyone know whether said talent still exists if it can't be expressed?

Either way, I haven't seen much evidence that Lee's about to return to his former level. It should go without saying that I hope he does but it already feels like the club has shown a great deal more patience with him than is sometimes the case.

We're at risk of philosophising here, and it is to some extent a moot point.

Bot s0d it, what are Thursday mornings for?

I don't think I can know, but I would point to the fact that sports people (being a group whose performances are publically visible) can go through long periods of slump where their form declines, but then somehow re-capture past glories, as some evidence that talent never goes away, and can be re-realised.

A very determined Ian Kirke wanting to prove his critics wrong.

I don't think talent goes away, certainly not at his age. Its his fitness / conditioning that has looked off. Thats down to attitude IMO.

Equally, I could give you some examples where previous glories were never recaptured. Maybe there's no universal truth on this one. However, on reflection my general perception is that even where past glories are recaptured, the resurgence is more often a flash in the pan rather than a pattern of sustained success. Just my perception, note; your perspective may well differ.

I'm guessing your opinion is based to a greater or lesser extent on your experience as a coach? If so, I've some questions:

To what extent are coaching staff responsible for a player's attitude?
If the fault lies predominantly with the player, and my guess is that it may well do, what would be a reasonable time frame to hold off before moving a player on, assuming there's no improvement in his attitude?

It was Bluey who used him at dummy half in a Super League game where he fielded a team with no hooker. I think Lee Smith was the fullback at the time and would scoot up for the play-the-ball.

I can't remember who it was against, but I think it may have been in 2009.

It was against Wigan, and JJB was named as hooker but Lee Smith and Brent Webb took acting-half throughout. We won convincingly, fwiw.

No question, the 2011 Lee Smith was well off the boil in terms of fitness. He wasn't close to being at the races.

But to me his fitness and attitude are one and the same thing.

Before the 2011 season he had a full pre-season to get himself physically ready to get ripped and to fight for his shirt. Through the season he struggled to get selected and his form when he did play backed the coaches decision up. So he wasn't heavily involved in game time, so his fitness should have been nailed on. Failed application of mind and body. Unless there was an injury for a full season.

And those who wax lyrical about his 'excellent' performance at full back against Wakie (who had their cue on the rack) need to look at themselves for reading anything else into a strong performance against a weak team amongst a side where everyone looked strong.