Think that is the crucial part, he has undoubted ability, but was never a 6 for a start, i would never understand why he was used as second receiver at times, in my opinion TL is far more suited to that role.

He will not be missed even if he is not replaced.

Can't defend him too much but he was unfortunate to be playing in a very average team (which he contributed to).
He has vision during games and could pick out runners with a perfect pass but as mentioned by others passing just aint enough in this current Wigan squad.
We needed a half that could lead and organise this team and dominate the opposition halfs.
If he had signed for Saints or Leeds his defence may not have been an issue and he probably would have come across as a much better player.
I'm sure he'll get fixed up in the NRL, with his previous reputation in Aus and the fact that he played for Wigan, which is still an impressive inclusion on his CV (despite what bitter and twisted fans of other clubs may try to say).
He will need to get a grip of his off field social activities otherwise he may end up back at square one in Aus.
Good luck to him but I'm affaid it just didn't work out at Wigan.

First two words summed it up.

He is a classic scrum half. An Andy Gregory type. Not a runner but someone who could organise, had good vision and could pass a ball better than anybody else in the game....

...and we played him at 6.


I said this in the winter, so, if I saw this then why couldnt Nobby see it?


By no means am I defending (apt) his poor defence. It was terrible almost unforgivable but a month or so in the reserves sorted him out and he came back and put a string of about 3 or 4 belting performances together.

The last good game he played for us was against Saints at Murrayfield. He did what Barrett never managed to do he tore Saints apart. Credit where it is due he was awesome and it made you wonder that if he can do that he can do anything.

After the Saints game it went slightly downhill again. The Hull KR game stood out for me, it was a tough, close, hard fought game. We played well that day but Smith did not want to know which lost us the game IMO.

Tim Smith's has an ability that is a rare thing these days. The skill levels are declining in Rugby League and I thought given his flaws it was good for the game that he was about, cos his attacking ability was something else.

People are right when they say he will not be missed, he won't because he had vital flaws to his game and we as an average team cannot afford to carry those flaws.

Tim Smith at Saints or Leeds in particular would have been frightening to play against.

McGuire would have had a field day. But as a couple have said he was a 7 and not a 6, and we don't have the personnel to carry his defensive deficiencies. He'll always be remembered by me however for that pass at Murrayfield to Joel Tomkins. There are not many players in the world who could have seen and executed it.

Good luck Tim.

Best passing Scrum Half i have seen in SL for many years

I don't get the passing thing with Smith, yes it was good and probably the best in the league but imo it wasn't as good as Barretts.

The amount of unbelievable passes Barrett put out in his time here far outweighed Smiths even on a game to game basis.

The relationship Barrett had with Joel Tomkins was exceptional and he set the lad up for more then the one try Smith ever did.

A good passer of a ball he may have been but not even in Barretts league on that score alone.

His slight of hand at times was magic

Theres been more than once were he's dummied me and i'm 50 metres away in stand.

Sterling called him the best hands in NRL and thats when johns was about

His show and go was great but he didn't use it enough.

He was easy for defences to read most of the time because you knew he'd pass and wouldn't have to cover him.

I said the same thing. Nobby is too conservative to contemplate such a move so that is the answer to your question IMO.



This is true. Every now and again something outstanding happened but....



Exactly. I am not suggesting if we were on top form we should have him back because all our best half backs of recent years have been able to tackle at least a bit. Howver it is true to say I have seen him give a few breathtaking passes to make you want this guy to fix the rest of his game because if he could do that to be just up to Lee Briers standard of defence he would be considered a great player.

Dave

Show and go?

When did Smith ever go?

He is one of the worst players I have ever seen in a Wigan shirt.

No he wasn't, unless you're very young.


I can name at least 20 at who were worse than Smith.

I bet you can't name another Aussie young player of the year who couldn't tackle, never broke a tackle, and generally looked petrified every time he took to the field.

An truly awful player, in all respects. He brought nothing, and his leaving means nothing in terms of team performance.

And please don't regale me with tales of his "Awesome" passing ability, because I just don't buy it.

Remembering him scoring a try vs Wakefield last year where he did this.

Thats about it though off the top of my head, bags of ability, very little application sadly.