I couldn't decide, to be honest. Not because I think they are all of equal ability but because neither Pryce nor Eastmond offer us the tactical kicking game that Smith does and while Pryce is a better organiser than Eastmond, I think Smith organised us better than Pryce on Friday. Granted, he wouldn't always play that well but we have lacked really good organisation and any form of tactical kicking all season. In fact, so far as tactical kicking is concerned, we've been missing it for a few seasons as Longy's tactical kicking faded ages ago.

So I couldn't decide because we need all three to really make us the strongest we could be.

That's all I'm saying.

No point in all the heated debates on this topic.

Saints had a choice to make in keeping either eastmond or smith, the club knows these two players better than any fans, the club went with eastmond.

IMO saints made correct call as it's pretty obvious kyle looks to be be a very special player and has the x factor.

I like smith and he was awesome on friday and when he filled in for longy he was very good but clubs have the SC to abide by and having eastmond, pryce, smith, moore and wheeler wouldn't be good for our SC.

I'd pick smith in all our games this year and i'd love him to join salford with a grand final winners ring.

I wouldn't drop him now, none of our injured players are going to be fully fit and I think we've seen theat the injuries they are carrying won't allow them to play at full whack for 80mins.

I think it would be unfair not to include Lomax in the selection. I know he doesn't have experience but he has bags and bags of talent. He's ripped teams to shreds single handedly the past few weeks. I don't recall him ever having a bad game that i have seen. Performs fantasticly week in and week out and if he is fit, i believe he has more than earned a shirt.

All this bickering over whether a Volkswagen is better than a Ferrari. Mental.

If Lomax and Eastmond are 100% fit, they should play in the halves - not Matty Smith.

I disagree, Smith added a massive amount of stability to the team and it's organisation. Pryce could do that were he fit but assuming he's out for the season, Smith IMO has to play every game, whether Kyle returns or not.

Kyle free to create and run at 6 and Smith at 7 organising and probing? It's a dream ticket.

go for a lie down, youre talking sense

Eastmond won't be fit so go with Lomax and Smith (if Jonny's fit enough)

Exactly, exactly, exactly.

Fair comment. Throw Jonny in there and IMO it starts to become clear why Smith would choose a team like Salford where he should be confident of making the first 13, rather than stay with Saints and face a huge struggle to make the 17 on a regular basis.

Well, it appears a lot of our fans value fuel consumption more than top speed



No club in their right mind would take Smith over Eastmond. We may be proved wrong in a few years if we're still struggling to get him on the pitch, but his immense talent is well worth the gamble.

The kicking game's been mentioned, but I think people are forgetting Kyle has a decent and varied boot on him.

Why then call Matty Smith back? when he has signed for another club? time will tell, but long term Eastmond, with St Helens I do not share you confidence!

I think Smith's main quality by far is his short kicking game. It was his control of Warrington by forcing repeat sets consistently that helped the forwards get on top, it is something we have been lacking lately. If Eastmond's hip is even half bad he isn't going to be able to kick comfortably, hence why I would have Smith in there.

Why do you think

We've got Eastmond, Pryce, Lomax and Wheeler all injured.
Matty Smith is still a St Helens player and therefore available to us - why wouldn't we call him back!?

The only argument that i consider to have any legs is whether we should have brought Matty back and let Scott Moore go instead. I think Smith could have done a good solid job at hooker for us (he did for crusaders), whereas Scotty seems very hot and cold. However, Moore was one of the form hookers at the end of his stint with Hudds and made the dream team and england squad, so assuming he can recapture that form, we'll be vindicated.

Nobody is denying Kyle's 'immense talent'. I'm not even sure people are talking in either/or terms? I know I'm not. What Saints need is both because each brings something of equal value to the halfback partnership which would make it an incredibly effective whole. As it is, without Smith, we don't have the tactical kicking game and nor do we have the organisation. The contrast between Friday night's game and every other game of the season was obvious to anyone with eyes. We just lack those to elements in our game; elements Smith would provide us with. He also brings his individual passion for Saints, which never goes amiss!

And he's not bad looking either. Always a plus!

I think we should though. They're both scrum halfs and play their best rugby at 1st receiver. Both are good enough to command a starting spot at a superleague team, therefore I don't think it would be possible to keep them both at the club and keep them happy, unless we were to get one to swap position.

I don't really like the idea of moving Kyle (to 6 for example). I think he's a very natural 1st receiver, but the pace he possesses tends to get others imaginations placing him all over the pitch. If Kyle (or Lomax) came back tomorrow, I do agree that one of those playing along side Smith would go alright even in the big games coming up.

As I've mentioned, imo we wouldn't have gone far wrong if we'd have kept hold of Matty to do Moore's job.

These games won't do smith's career any harm. If we have a good run, his performances will stick in coaches mind and assuming he does a solid job at Salford for the next 2 seasons, he'll have some interest when it comes to contract renewal.

If they both specifically want the no.7 jersey then I suppose that is a problem but if one was happy with 6 and one 7, or Smith at 9, then they would have complemented each other well IMO. Would cause absolute chaos with their kicks and Kyle's darts and such like. Each one would probably show up stronger in different conditions too. Quite a prospect in rugby league terms given their respective talents.


Agreed.

I know Leon might have appeared invisible in a Grand Final or two, but don't forget the lad entirely.

I'm not. I've had nothing but good things to say about Leon all season. He has been our organiser and has played some wonderful rugby. I think he has been outstanding for us all season. I was just reflecting, albeit hypothetically and retrospectively since Smith is shortly to be a Salford player.

I've only just had the chance to come on here and add my view to this thread. I haven't read the whole thread either so if it's already been said, apologies.

Matty Smith was sensational against Warringtion, his best display in a Saints shirt by a mile. His kicking game was immaculate and he changed the game with the the kick for the opening try and the 40/20. He deserved the MOM award in a superb team effort. IMO, he must stay in the side at 7 for the remainder of the year and should Kyle or Lomax return, the other slots in at 6. I have my doubts whether we'll see either again to be honest and there's no need to keep Smith out of the team purely on that basis alone.

Smith is a good solid scrum half. That’s his position. Thoughts/views/opinions of putting him at 9 in any team regardless of talent currently in the 7 slot are just nonsensical.

Smith for me is a creative player who links the ball between his forwards and his backs very well. He has good vision to put 11, 12 and 13 or his three quarters to work. Can make breaks, and does occasionally to keep the opposition guessing. Technically he has quick hands, a good kicking game - tactical kicks and kicks for territory. Coupled with his decision making skills, which will only get better, it make him a potent weapon because it forces the opposition to focus on several areas of defence, both physically and mentally.
You don’t need superstars in every position to produce a team like we had in 2006 just players with the right skills, in the right positions that compliment each other.

Based on my opinion above. To me its clear that the argument that anyone would have Eastmond in there team over Smith is also as ridiculous as playing Smith at 9

If I had more time I'd imagine my response to this thread would have been this. Pretty much word for word!

Spot on.