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!

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.

I do not think eastmond would work with smith as eastmond would want to be the centre of attention.

Sadly some people just cant grasp the fact that we cant keep everybody. Matty Smith is a good player but as we can only play 2 halfbacks and we have Leon Pryce as a cert thats leaves 1 spot. The club and coaching staff obviously believe Eastmond is a brighter propect and it's in the best long term interest of the club and the player that Smith move on and get the first team Rugby he needs and we can develop more young players with the extra cap money/squad space (players like Ellis and Gaskell)

Matty had a top game for us and personally with Pryce out and Kyle unlikey to be 100% fit I hope he keeps his spot in the team and picks up a grand final winners medal but all the people bleating about keeping him should just take a breath, look at the squad and answer the following easy question , If we were injury free with the squad we have would Matty Smith be in the 17 ? In my opinion the answer is no and by the fact that he was loaned out all year I guess Mick Potter would agree.

I think thats nonsense. I'm not sure they would be the best combo but if Eastmond is fit then a I would expect Eastmond to pick up the Leon Pryce type of role and play as a 6 and Smith to play 7 for the rest of the playoffs.