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.

Nor is this the first time Smith has failed to take opportunities to establish a spot in the 1st team. Remember, he was given the full back shirt after Mathers injury then lost it to Tansey. A pattern is emerging of a talented player who appears to be sufficiently motivated on an inconsistent basis.

He is, quite rightly, down the pecking order with the young, fast, talented outside backs we have but if they can keep him happy and get him motivated he's a handy lad to have around

Didn't Tony Smith once drop him and made him water carrier and he came back strongly and got international recognition

All I am wary of is questioning his general attitude and commitment when none of us know what his personal and/or health circumstances have been. There are all kinds of reasons why people don't have their "heads in the right place" and assuming laziness and arrogance should not be the first recourse, particularly when peering in from the outside.

As I mentioned previously the interview in the league weekly from Brian McDermott it alludes to the fact both his fitness and attitude were wrong and that they had a meeting were the air was cleared.

He states he has been going well in training and appears to knucled down. And would play prop now if asked to although he prefered spot is full back.

Something along the lines of "he has won alot of trophies but needs to have the attitude of someone who hasn't won anything