Why is our half back getting the ball at 2nd or 3rd man?

I actually don’t think he is but even if he was it’s not acceptable.


Hastings looks garbage?!

I don’t think you understand what is going on.

Smith offers 0 threat. Literally non.

Hastings offers all the threat. All of it.

Wherever Hastings goes the defence can number up.

Defences do not need to number up on Smith because he literally offers bugger all.

On current form I genuinely believe Smith is the worst half in SL.

As for our youngsters, KPP is clearly a real talent, who Wigan should do their damnest to hang on to. Shorrocks is a useful squad player who can fill in at a few positions, but has been over-played. Havard is a bit of an enigma; there's a great player in there, but I'm not sure it's ever coming out. Smithies, Partington and Byrne, I'm less and and less convinced about. And reluctantly, I'm putting Smith in that category too. There's been a few games lately where our forwards haven't been particularly dominated, and we've had a decent amount of field position, but I don't recall Smith taking these games by the scruff of the neck. He just looks to have too many errors and poor decisions in him for me.

What’s Smith doing that differs in any way from Joe Mellor at Leigh for example? And that’s after a good few knee injuries too. I think we all want Smith to do well but how long does he get a free pass from criticism? It’s the nature of the beast being a halfback no matter what age. He needs to at least have one facet of the game locked in and I couldn’t tell you what he’s actually good at for a two game stretch, never mind a run of games.

Who has taken those games by the scruff of the neck?

Again...not saying he isn't due some criticism but I don't see what he can do behind a pack literally getting killed. Hastings is our only threat? We have failed to score in 7 halves of rugby and have scored about 20 points in the other 7 halves.

That can't all be down to smith.

He’s got a great kicking game…..if putting it out on the full is great.

His passing is all over the place.

His defence is poor.

His will to win is non existent.

I have said for years that our pack isn't big enough but we keep saying how good Olly P, Smithies, Havard are etc and maybe they are all good players, but not all at once with no support. It stinks of 2005.

I'd love to see Partington play as support to Walmsley for example.

We are killing these lads.

All the defence does is track Hastings.

They don’t worry about Smith as he offers nothing.

That’s why we aren’t scoring.

Wherever Hastings goes the defence goes.

No defence worries about Smith.

Harvard is top class.

Partington isn’t.

Excellent debate there about Smith. Some good points raised IMO and valid ones at that.

I’ll throw my 20p worth in about Smith. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’d like to see Smith with a decent Head Coach and behind a good pack before I start calling for his departure. FWIW I agree in part with jonh that he certainly isn’t showing that promise or talent he was rapped to have. He hasn’t taken games by the scruff of the neck and has gone into hiding. For me he looks lost, he looks like he’s no idea what his coach wants him to do other than “Give it Hastings”. Perhaps he does need to be a little stronger and do things himself but you’ve got to remember he’s only really in his 2nd season at the top level and whilst HB’s need a commanding voice and confident strut about them, Smith has strong personalities taking over him.

Smithies, Partington and Byrne for me can go. I’ve seen enough. They all had promising starts but the more I watch them the more it’s obvious to see they’re nothing more than mid-lower SL standard. Players who have a dig but are in the main ineffective. Shorrocks has something about him I like but I’m leaning towards putting him in the aforementioned category to be honest.

It feels a little like scape goat hunting here. We all know the root cause of these issues - Adrian Lam

Probably right there. As I said last night, I'm not saying Smith is or isn't any good, I just want to see him behind a decent pack before I judge him.

Put any other half back in from SL in place of Smith and were still rubbish, we might be a little less rubbish who knows, but still rubbish.

Paul Sculthorpe comments (and I haven't wat hed it myself yet so taking the words on here as gospel) are exactly what I've been saying for pretty much 2 and 1/2 years.

Exactly, Dodds is playing at the back of a better pack and in a better all round squad than Smith.

To make comparisons of these two young and good players at the present time is nonsense!


And any adverse comments by Sculthorpe about Wigan might have more to do with him having a chip on his shoulder about his son being not being signed from the Academy rather than the game itself.

Barry McDermott is another as a result of being got rid of by the club.

Sculthorpe’s comments were respectful but damning. Big difference to him just gobbing off.

Swap Smith and Dodds last night and Smith wins man of the match and everyone raves about him. I thought he did ok last night as it was but no halfback is going to be able to play on the back of that absolute shambles of a front row and under this absolute shambles of a coach.