I want the best team on the field but just wondered what had happened to Lee Smith as I can't remember him being injured. Surely we should be allowed to ask the questions on here

Yes you should but the answers are there in the results.

No they aren't, results are just results. There is room for improvement in anything, god forbid that someone suggests something that HRJr doesn't like. In my opinion, which you agree in your wisdom I am allowed, replacing McNally with Smith would have and will improve the team and therefore the performances. Our points difference may have been improved in the first two games, when McNally was not just OK, he was poor.

McNally is only a shadow of the player he was last season.

I think a lot of fans are forgetting hes just come back after nearly a season out with injury.Hes not doing anything wrong or being spectacular hes being a safe ,steady fullback

I'm impressed with how he has applied himself to recover from a horrendous injury.

I can understand the sentiments about Lee Smith, but maybe the coaching team are seeing things on a daily business that we are not seeing?

Lee is a different type of player who has been great for us, the coaches pick the team and aren't doing a bad job

Can't argue with that, smith could also be a very useful squad player next season should we reach the promised land with the experience he has

I have to agree with reffy. McNally has been OK & quite safe but I feel Smith should play against Giants on Saturday.

Smith is bigger & stronger in the tackle & better defensively on or near his line, he also doesn't have the petulance that can occasionally strike with Greg.
In this Saturdays game I think defences will hold the key to success, ok you also have to attack but with Smith in I feel we would be better equipped.

McNally [iIS[/i showing signs of fear when returning the ball & ALL too often is looking to offload it to a stronger more aggressive player like AJ for example, he doesn't seem to gather pace when running it in but slowly meanders up to the opposition defensive line & submits easily to the tackle, Smith is not like this.

I am not for one minute suggesting Greg is poor & I am a fan of his attacking but he does look to have lost a little edge that he had throughout last season. Maybe the bad injury & constant 'targeting' by rival teams has worn him down a little now ?

I also agree with reffy when he says "results are just results" (or similar) & don't prove that the 100% correct team has been picked 100% of the time (that's my bit), all it means to me is that we have done enough 'just' so far.

Fully expect some backlash but hey, that's what forums are for, discussing the merits of subjects & giving/receiving/forming opinions.

In any case, whoever takes the field on Saturday will have my full support & voice from the North Stand.

Why would you have a FB running full tilt at a solid chase risking losing the ball, let alone in awful conditions? Secure possession and give players as much time to get back as possible, whoever is at FB. Greg provides the options that creates the links and space for the halves, something Reynolds did exceptionally well v Fax

That is exactly my point Alan and I do suspect that is the case.

For me young Gregg's support play is far superior than Smith's as his 30 try per season haul will testify. McNally at full back offers you plenty of options although I accept defensively he is may be not as sound.

All in all, I do wonder who the coaching staff feel is the most committed when it comes to team selection. It's my final word in this discussion.

Saturday could be a very monumental day in the recent history of Leigh RLFC.

IMO the criticisms of McNally are out of order. We've only really seen him in the Qualifiers this season and these are much tighter games. I don't think he put a foot wrong at Hull which is pretty good under those conditions. Compare his performance with that of his opposite number!

Some folk want to see a FB take the ball on the full and charge into the wall of defenders, they live in the 70's and have Fairburn and Burke as hero's

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and who they prefer,McNally or Smith,I have leanings for both,for varied reasons,Mo ,I once saw a Leigh prop Dave Evans turn Burke inside out on a 50 yard run to the line and score under the posts,I never rated Burke.And I wasn't keen on Hare either.

Were you in the loo when he gave away the penalty for obstruction? I applaud your support of McNally but don't over egg it.