Are you from 2008? That time is already here and has been for at least 2 seasons

You're saying it was already "shot to sh*t" in 2009?

Smith - Our least value for money player.

Many on here know my opinion of him so it would be rude for me to not contribute to a thread all about him! I was glad to see the back of him (ask anybody that stands anywhere near me), and I was gutted when he came back. He had a cracker on his return, and I was all ready to admit that the Union mistake had taught him a lesson and he was a new man, but no. He didn't let me down.

The main problem with Smith is that he's in it for the wrong reasons. Rugby (League especially) is a lifestyle choice. The fame/glory/admiration that comes with it is very much a sideline and not a given. I've always had Smith down as in it for the fame/glory/admiration and not for playing the Rugby. He strikes me as one of these lazy kids at school that was always popular because they were good at sport. He got the opportunity to play pro-RL and though... "A professional Rugby player? Yeah, chicks will dig me, I'll get to go on Question of Sport, and maybe date a pop star, and be a celebrity. I'll go for that". You all know the sort. Which is why (IMO) he has a habit of scoring in big games. Big games = more press coverage = more viewers = more glory and he tries harder than his usual lazy self. It is also why I wasn't shocked in the slightest that he moved to Union. Of ALL the players in SL I would've tipped Smith to a move to Union above any of them. But, it turns out that Union is actually pretty hard work too. There's far more players for a start. It's harder to stand out. He was going to have to work hard to prove himself from the Wasps reserves and his appearance on QoS wasn't an automatic given like he thought it would be. Lazy boy decided that he'd rather be a big fish in a small pond because being a big fish in the much wider covered Union game would require a certain amount of effort, and Lee Smith doesn't do effort.

I can imagine that his report card was one of those ones that said... "A talented boy, but Lee needs to apply himself".

How much is he on?

It doesn't matter. There isn't a lazier player in the squad, thus whatever it is that he's on we're not getting value for money. Unless he's playing for free or paying us to play. In which case, I stand corrected and I'm happy to revoke my statement.

HTH.

I disagree.

If Ian Kirke, for example is on around £100k per season and Lee Smith is on, say £20k per season then I would argue Smithy doesn't represent the least value for money.

Without seeing a full payroll list, it's impossible to say

Ok mate. Fair enough.

This is an opinion forum after all.

My opinion is that Smith is an attention seeking, money grabbing, glory hunting, fame monkey and NOT a rugby player.

I wouldn't argue with any of that nowadays anyway

What you've got to understand is that "Big Game Player" is code for "Good enough to do it, but can't be a[ir[/ised doing it unless there's loads of people watching or your photo is going to go in the paper with a trophy."

And as good a "Big Game Player" as Lee Smith is, I'd rather not have in the squad thanks.

There were times in 09 when we really struggled to make yards! The signs were there. 2010 was on the cards, peacocks replacement needed to be sourced and a changing of the guard needed to happen with peacock playing back up to the next Leeds pack leader! Giving peacock less workload. That player is still nowhere to be seen. The development of the team to maintain success has lapsed big time! Especially in the front row! Moore who I think isn't a bad player and griffin are not the answer in my opinion. The fact Kirke and kylie are here is a sign of a near future without success.

Didn't Smith have personal reasons for moving to London which contributed to his decision?

Yes. PERSONALLY he thought he'd be more famous living down there.

IIRC at the time he announced he was leaving he was still in a relationship with Verity Rushworth, who had left Emmerdale and moved to London to pursue a stage career.

Setting aside your obvious personal agenda for one second (has he shagged your bird or something, you do seem very intent on making it personal rather than professional?), is it not just possible that his move to Union was at least partly motivated by wanting to be closer to his then girlfriend?

Smiths form overall has left him wide open for critics to take a swipe at him since his return from union. He hasn't produced the goods, I think that is fair to say. I'd also question his level of fitness as well, and he's been back well over a year. So I thought at the start of this season we would have seen a stream-lined, cutting edge, Lee Smith. That didn't happen.

But what makes it worse for Smith is the better, younger others, have evolved and made him look dated.

Watkins and BJB (Hardaker to a lesser extent) look lean, strong, quick, skillful, playing well and catching the eye (they are a look to the future which Leeds need more than ever). Whereas Smith looks no-where near any of those adjectives.