You're not wrong. We've not heard from the Giraffe for months and now it's the Elephants turn.

Anyone seriously think Wigan are a poorer team with Smith gone this season?

I don't miss those totally under hit grubbers that he seems to have perfected! The amount of times there was acres of space in behind the opposition winger last year and we had numbers on them only for him to dab it straight in the hands of that winger wasn't funny.

He nailed a couple of them again last night. They aren't as frustrating now though funnily enough. He seems a true gent and he never gave anything less then his best for Wigan so I shouldn't Will him to fail but I have found it amusing the billing the Sky boys have given him whilst he's been injured. Even I started believing they were getting a cloned version of Wally Lewis crossed with Jonathan Thurston back.

Smith looked the same last night for Saints as he has for the last 2 years at Wigan. There was no real threat with ball in hand, no real risk of an incisive pass to put someone through a gap and his short kicking game was poor. On a couple of occasions there was plenty of space to stab the ball into behind the winger and the kick was poor and only found a defender.

People will always say that we'd have won this game or that game if we had Smith, and yes he was a very valuable player in close games but then you also have to ask how many games did we lose where we might have had a better chance of winning if we'd had a player who could create a bit more? The answer could be none. It could be that Smith's value in close games outweighs his poor performances in many others, but I'd hope that isn't the case.

The jury is out so far on whether Leuluai can be a greater creative influence than Smith. He's definitely more direct so has more variation to his game, and he has linked incredibly well with Sean O'Loughlin already this year in attacking plays which might not have given him an assist but have led to tries.

When you replace any player with another it's always going to be a risk. I've been very critical of Smith but he can provide an excellent kicking game and is a very vocal organiser of the team and I did worry that bringing in Leuluai might see us lose those positives. Not that Leuluai has been kicking badly. He's put in some excellent kicks in recent games that have been weighted to perfection, but he's not as consistent as Smith is when on form and doesn't have the same range for long kicks.

We'll see over the next few games whether Leulaui provides the attacking threat we've hoped. The problem is that every season provides different scenarios and different personnel and different challenges so it can be hard to compare a player from last season with a different player from this season. If Leuluai plays as well as we know he can then he should make a considerable difference despite the weaker kicking game, but I do worry that we might be found wanting in close games. The Huddersfield game was reminiscent of Widnes last year. I have no doubts that Smith would have done far better in organising and calling for a drop goal.

That was a typical Smith performance last night. Went behind and when had to chase the game yes they got close but it was scrambled attack.

He is a front running half back and when in lead he can control a game but last night was like watching Wigan last season.

It will always come down to the fact that Wigan would not have let him go never mind to our biggest rival if he couldn't be replaced by at least on par never mind Tommy who IMO is a better all round player and suits our systems.

As a bloke Smith seems really popular. I get that!
Let's not make up stories that his short and long range kicking was anything above average though.

With two minutes to go in the Grand Final he had the chance to punt the ball into touch and keep Wire pinned in their own half, but kicked out on the full. That mistake almost cost us the championship. Only superb scrambling defence (of which he was part of) kept Wire a yard out.

Man playing first game after a leg break has an average game in a weak team, thus justifying some peoples view....

Just playing devils advocate...

His second game back, but don't forget, he only broke it 7 or 8 weeks ago IIRC.
That is a hell of a recovery, and then to get in condition to play is something else.
I'm sure he'll get fitter, and when he's worked longer with the others, I expect him to improve. No question.
On another note, I had Saints to win last night and actually found myself wanting them to score.




I feel so dirty

Apologies, but, my point still stands. And as I said, devils advocate..

Get yourself over to Redvee. After a couple of weeks of solidification the meltdown is once again in full swing - hilarious!

I dont know what you guys are complaining about, I dont think your halves are why you lost that game

Williams is looking very good, I thought his tries were a bit soft by us, but his general play has definately improved, I dont know why some of our fans were giving him stick, I dont think he his the Lee Briers (or S Tomkins for that matter) type who constantly winds up opposition fans and wines at the ref

If he wants to be number 6 for england though he still needs to do more outside the opposition 40, as Widdop has started well this year

Overall good game I thought, just what you want from Leeds Wigan, some skill on show and plenty of aggression and (from my point of view) Leeds taking the 2 points

Nearly crashed my car when heard Wanes interview, saying we were the better team, fair play to him

These posts were all before tonight's game.