He is actually signing for Penrith.

The problem with the Smith deal is that he's out of contract and so the club won't receive any money.
If league clubs were getting big fees then it would be a little easier to take.

The RFU haven't signed anybody, Wasps have. The RFU refused to put their hands in their pockets for signings from League after getting their fingers burned with Farrell.

True

Danny Williams?

people said that about Pryce, Walker and Ashton.

He cant be that desperate!

Well not really, he was terrific most of last season when he played, he also was one of Leeds' best players in all the big games last season.

Its more of a blow for England than it is for Leeds. Been back to back champions Leeds can easily replace him with a similar player from the NRL. England may have to go back to playing players like Wellens and Gardner.

Nahhhh Ashton was style over substance, Walker is more of a hard runner than a natural rugby player (not a bad punt by the RFU but still a loser) and Pryce is was the same.

I think that Smith is more of a Rugby player with well rounded passing running and, importantly for RU, kicking skills.

I usually joke with RU fans when they say my team signed such and such and he does not do this, this and that. I just say "Of course you silly idiots he has never been able to do that, if your team had actually watched him play before signing him they would know that".

The best ones have been the Welsh fan that complained that Iestyn Harris was erratic and slow

and the England fan that complained that Lesley counld not defend or Kick

.

Smith shows that some Union coaches have started sky plusing Superleague matches and have been looking before buying. This is a very dangerous and worrying development.

How can a 22 year old be looking for a new challenge?

Surely there is still plenty of challenges left for him at Leeds and in RL (if he is moving to Union).