Maybe I’m being too kind but he’s hardly player there in his time here. Isa isn’t a centre by trade now but he was as a junior coming through in Oz and when he moved here, so it’s not totally alien to him either. Ultimately with Bibby he offers brilliant value. I’d imagine he’s not on a fortune and I think he’s a really good player for us. He has things to work on and if he can develop his passing game then great, if not then I’m still more than happy to have him in the squad.

Just seen the highlights on Wigan TV. We looked clunky in our execution but I’m not going to get into the ineptitude of Lam again. In all honesty I haven’t the energy to.

It wasn’t a game I’d ever expect us to lose in all seriousness. Salford are a poor side, poorly coached and a playing roster which is average - poor at best.

Smith looked lively though, perhaps someone who saw the game could confirm.

Back to rocks and diamonds with Smith. He made a couple of really poor errors and mixed them in with some outrageous bits of skill. His career here will be defined by his ability to shelve those errors. If he can do that then he could be a top class halfback.

And that for me is one of the frustration with Lam as a coach - he was a very fine half-back as a player so if there is any position you would expect he could make a difference in coaching it would be with half-backs but there doesn't seem to have been any significant improvement there.

Better than just rocks, to stick with your comparison, which he has been producing. He just needs a proper knowledgeable coach and he’ll be a fine HB. I’d have loved to have him coached under Iestyn Harris/Paul Deacon like GW had the fortune to experience (perhaps Deacon more than Harris).

But Lam was better than both?

As much as I don't like Lam, Harris didn't do much as a coach?

Wasn't there a story around Harris at the Grand Final where we were being convincingly beaten by Wire at half time? He was making noises around how poor it was going to be losing the final, did it within Waney's earshot as he was trying to rally his troops. Was told to leave the room and didn't last much longer at the club.

It’s a tough one. I don’t rate Lam in the slightest but the errors Smith produces are absolute basics of kicking out on the full, dropping passes cold or throwing wayward passes. There’s been times when that’s been because we’re on the back foot and he’s being pressed for time but he’s still made them in recent games, when in fairness I think our front row has really picked up and he’s been able to play a bit more on the front foot.

The good stuff he produces can be breathtaking but if he is to get to the very top (winning finals with Wigan and playing for England), he’s going to need to minimise the silly errors. If Waney is back in place next season and in a role where he will be working with the players on the training field and in video sessions, he’ll be so tough on him I’m sure. That could go either way.

I'd never heard that one tbh.

Has he had a coaching job since he left us?

My first time back in the ground for game in god knows how long, and i was bored, frustrated and annoyed at our performance.
Dunno if I'll be in rush to go back watching us especially with Lam in charge

That was early October 2013 and he was still with the club in Australia in February 2014 for the WCC . So probably BS

I agree with over Smith still young and learning but he really needs to cut the mistakes out the sooner the better

Not as a Head Coach no but as an actual assistant coach as well as Paul Deacon worked wonders for our attack. It’s no coincidence IMO that when they left out attack started to decline in quality.

It was our 4th game in 14 days what more do you expect

I just don't think we're comparing like for like here. I'm no Lam fan, but as an assistant he's won a world cup. Who's to say what he'd have been like as a no.2 behind Madge or Wane. We don't know and I don't think it's fair to compare.

The majority of us want Lam gone but I don't think that, from a Smith POV, he'd have been any better or worse with Harris or Deacon here. I like Smith and, like you, I'm not ready to give up on him but he's got plenty of support in Lam, Tommy and Hastings who are probably, along with Barrett, three of the best HBs the club's had in SL.