he might not be as good but how many games is eastmond gona miss every season for you guys

In all seriousness I cannot see why he wasn't kept. Kyle, as wonderfully talented as he is, isn't an organiser yet and Smith would have been a sensational foil for him. Why not keep Pryce/Lomax and Eastmond/Smith? Give Wheeler the boot instead.

It's not a catestrophic mistake because Lomax and Eastmond is a perfectly good future partnership, Eastmond probably the brightest individual talent I've seen at Saints for years, but I just feel they could have fit Smith in somewhere. He could then have covered halfback and hooker and would probably have played most weeks. Instead we'll have the biscuits sat in the stands watching Wilkin and Roby play halfback most weeks next season.

Well, Matty did himself proud tonight. I've yet to watch the match back but some of his kicks were superb and he was clearly organising everyone. To walk into a side with a week's notice and perform like that showed a very professional attitude. I think he was the difference.

And Jamie Foster: what a match he had too.

But well done Matty.

I think Matty might have played himself into the next play off game regardless of Eastmond and Lomax being fit.

Wire destroyed by Saints youngsters, with Graham missing most of the second half........

foster is one of the best under the bombs ! imo

i hope Eastmond was watching Smith's performance-just shows what a decent kicking game does!

We look rather silly for letting him go

the 2 occasions where smith did the short kicks under the sticks were superb, normally moore or someone woulda kicked that straight at the opposing teams feet

If he improved in defence, I'd be very intrigued to see how he would at full back for you lot. See if he can do a Sam Tomkins.

i said at start of season we should of brough smith back instead of moore, as he also covers hooker

Why instead of Moore? Moore may not be Cunningham, but he's a perfectly capable player and will be an asset to us next season.

Smith was very impressive, and noticably a better player than when he last played for Saints. He always had a great long kicking game, but tonight he won us loads of repeat sets with grubber kicks (why we don't do this more often I just don't know) and took the line on in attack, two things he didn't do when he was last here.

Merged the two Matty Smith threads.

Excellent game by matty, I really think he would be the real deal at saints with a strong pack behind him and he doesn't get injured if someone coughs near him!

Me to...and another RED AND WHITE side prevail.



Well done Saints and playing Smith a masterstroke...easily MOTM.

Based on last night's performance, I too hope we bring Matty back after his 2 years at Salford.

... and based on how Saints treated him... I'd say maybe not and you should thank your lucky stars he's such a professional.

Salford have given him a future and took a chance on him. He must have felt insecure at Saints for years being pushed around... and I would say the nature of the man would see him being a Salford player for a long time to come as long as he is wanted. I really don't see this 2 year contract being his last one at Salford.

He did himself and Salford proud last night.

My MoM last night Smith terrific game. He is a first grade Super League player and hopefully he can kick on from Salford.

to all those who were arguing that Lomax and Wheeler (who i think are both great players) are better half backs than him now, HA HA HA

Matty Smith should have got the MoM lastnight for his performance. Played the conditions superbly. Made Briers look like a know-nowt numpty. And all this after less than a week back at the club. He didn't have a clue when doing the warm up drills

I said the same thing before the game last night. I'd have kept smith before scott moore as imo smith would do better job at hooker.

Matty smith should now play the rest of the year. He always played very well and i thought it was mistake even letting him go out on loan.

He will never have the x factor that kyle has or shoot thru defences like kyle but smith is a proper scrumhalf with a top class kicking game. He also has passion which i think kyle may lack a little bit of passion and heart.

When sia smashed mathers but also caught smith, i doubt kyle would have got up from the bang smith took.

Smith plays the same style as long did in the latter years.

He got Sky's MoM. Jamie Foster got KR's MoM. I think that takes care of two players who had outstanding matches.

Let's not go overboard here, he had an exceptional game but looked like he always has done, a younger version of Paul Deacon.

He's a Steady Eddie that will always give 100%, last night was no exception and proved his professionalism. However he'll never have the unpredictability that Eastmond gives us and won't hit the heights Eastmond will.

To those who say that Eastmond can't organise the team, were you not watching us before the last 6 weeks? He's got a better kicking and passing game than Long ever had, never mind at the same stage of his career.

And what a difference a 'steady Eddie' can make to a team, don't you think? It's all well and good having unpredictability but, as I've said on here before when Smith has been discussed, we need someone who is solid also; someone who can steady the ship, organise, kick well (and hey, why not have two good kickers as halfbacks?), etc. I think Smith and Eastmond working together or Smith, Eastmond and Lomax as a threesome (loose, 7 and 6) would have been really, really good. Alas. Not to be.

I,d tend to agree with Billinge_Lump, the short term future is probably going to be Eastmond/Lomax/Pyrce. Impressed with Matty's professional attitude though, he said it was an honour to play in the Red Vee Shirt whatever the circumstances.