Think your assessment is spot on. As with others, I wouldn't even be that concerned about trying to make him a SOL replacement. That style of 13 is getting rarer and rarer, and a like-for-like replacement of the right quality and at the right age probably doesn't exist in world rugby. I'm more than happy for Smithies to play the role that we were hoping that Bateman would've held long term.

I think it would do the lad (Partington too probably) to scale down some of the hype just a little bit. They're still babies for forwards, and whilst the way in which they've been competing has been amazing, the worst thing we could do at this point is give them too much responsibility too soon.

Best thing for them would be to have a long off season with no thoughts of representative rugby (don't think that's a realistic prospect anyway) then go into next season behind SOL, Burgess, Flower, Clubb and Clark in the pecking order. There'll still be plenty of opportunities for them.

If they play half the number of matches next year as they have this year it'll still be a lot for forwards their ages.
Hopefully they'll all pass the second season syndrome test with flying colours.

He still could be. Obviously not on Lockers level but i dont know another front rower with the handling and passing skills like Burke has. A couple of injuries and being overweight since he moved on though but looks in good shape this year.

Yea let’s hope he side steps “second season” syndrome he does look a class apart,and your point about Sky is bang on too they should temper there manical rankings in regards to young lads as all it does is heap pressure on shoulders too young to start with.

Let’s not forget Smithies hasn’t even had a preseason in the first team. He’ll kick on and mature and he certainly made many a break, pass etc in the U19s. He may be under instruction to play the way he is, we don’t know?
One thing is for sure, he’s a very exciting prospect and one who is very clearly right at home at first team level.

Great potential. Absolutely. Next Lockers? Hard to say.

We identified Lockers potential at a similar age, but we also had him playing as the leagues slowest centre. We did similar with Hansen, Hock etc. Seems nowadays the kids are expected be able to go toe to toe at starting prop from the get go.

The difference between Connor/Kyle and the current crop is that Smithies and the others have played for a fair percentage of games and have not looked out of place whereas Connor and Kyle and several others, including an U19s international captain, never played more than a bit part and did not really get the opportunity to show of they could bridge the gap.

More of a Harrison Hansen so far.

Who has the potential to be better.

At the moment, this.

Quite a good call that.

I’d say this is quite a compliment. To be likened to HH as an 18 year old who hasn’t even had a preseason in the first team isn’t too shabby at all.

Like Harrison Hansen but with better hands(?).

Hope he has better shoulders. If so I’ll happily take another HH

I think Morgan is game, plays with real aggression and determination in defence, and carries the ball running very direct. Which for me are the same characteristics as HH.

Harrison was never a prolific line breaker (like a Faz/Bateman) or showcased great passing and link play like Lockers, but wasn't dubbed the 'hitman' for nothing, he, like Morgan, would tackle all game long.
Another player in the same vein was Dallas Johnson, another direct running tackling machine. Another would be Ashley Harrison, for anyone who's been watching Origin over the years they'll be familiar with how good and how vital Ashley was to the all dominate QLD team, the definition of a 'unsung hero'.

I feel Morgan could be a real star long term in the game. But his attributes and skillset (so far) are not the same as the likes of Bateman, Faz or indeed Lockers, so for me, it's hard to compare.

Either which way, I'm glad he's with us. Another promising talent of ours.

I'd made the point before that I thought the Lockers comparison was wide of the mark and, in some ways, unfair on Smithies. He has all the tools to be a great player in his own right and I think saddling him with the expectation of being the next O'Loughlin when hls own game has few similarities could actually hinder him or, at the very least, skew fan's expectations of him. In all honesty the same thing skewed many fans expectations of Lockers early on, largely because he wasn't a 'shouter' who 'gives out b0llockings behind the posts' as Farrell had done before him. In fact, there are still (admittedly few) who have never got beyond that view.

I referenced Bateman as a closer match, mainly because of his aggression, tenacity, workrate and very obvious will to win. However, I reckon your Hanson comparison is an even better fit and, as others have said, if he can go on to emulate H or maybe even eclipse him as he has the potential to do, he won't go far wrong!