You really are a short term kind of guy aren't you.

One game and he's a superstar. It's the same with Wane 3/4 of the season is average and he last quarter is sublime so everything is Ok. What ever happened to a long term view of stuff? I know you didn't say it but it's the same with the people that write Lockers off after one bad performance. There's no weight given to anything that happened 6 months ago etc.

The telling factor with Smith is that in over 3 seasons you can count on one hand his truly top class performances. Compare that to youngsters like Bateman, Manfredi, Burgess & Williams and they've probably had more big games despite lacking in experience and age.

He's been average-to-poor all year, saved one of his worst performances for the Grand Final but he puts one ok performance in and suddenly all is looking great again.

Classic AUOP.

Might it be that a steady hand, holding things together in the middle of the park can allow others to flourish... ?

I like Matty as a lad and I think he's a very honest player, though not the most talented. The OP certainly has a point. He ran the game well for England and justified his call-up.

The question is what does this say about the overall standard of halfbacks in the British game?

Smith done a good job I think. Come the next tournament wiliams will have that spot nailed on.

Is that not what people have been saying? Stuff like being a general and having a good kicking game should be 'bread and butter' for any decent number 7 with a high number of games in the bank. He should be doing the stuff that let's the rest of the team tick over, BUT he also has to chip in with more MOM performances and big plays.

The stuff that would take him to the next level would be the money ball type pass or the show and go runs. For me if he doesn't have that now then he'll never develop it and that limits him as a truly top bracket 7.

He's a modern day Deacon imo, but just not as good. For me Deacon has impeccable kicking every week and a great range of passing to boot. When you add in his place kicking being up there with some of the best ever you have the model for what Smith should be.

One game and he's a superstar?

Yeah, just like one poor game (out of three!) and Williams 'isn't up to it'. Nobody should be judged on the basis of one game.

Matty Smith's selection yesterday made sense, especially in the conditions. And it's all good. Going forward, we want options in the halves. I do think that, especially as he didn't get a shot in this series, Gale should be given a go ASAP to show what he's got at international level.

I'm with you about Sam

Take a quick look at Mattys pass for Whiteheads second and tell me that George could have executed that. Left to right with the defender in his face right into the bread basket. Matty is a better passer right now. With George that may come but right now Matty is a better passer and kicker.

Look at the round the back 'Gleeson style' pass that George has thrown out a few times this year - Smith can't get near that.

I'm not trying to knock Smith. He seems like a decent guy who has offered great stability. I just really want him to step up and boss the game more - it shouldn't be this close of a call on who is better a seasoned pro or a rookie

Might yesterday's improved performance not be due to the fact that he had had a good rest after being flogged all season by Wane? I think I saw some statistics from Bilko last week that showed he had made 32/33 appearances last season, more than any other Wigan player. True he had the odd week off ( Challenge Cup semi final and final weekends) but I don't think he was injured all season (although he was suspended after the Widnes game!). He is a very resilient player - I can only recall one injury a couple of seasons ago when he was taken out off the ball after kicking and damaged his ankle.
Some of us have been saying SW should have given the Williams/Rocky partnership a go at some stage last season - rotating and giving Smith an occasional well earned rest. It's not rocket science, just good man-management, which would have also given SW and everyone else the chance to see how Rocky fared at half back. And it might have led to much better performances from Smith in the crucial games last season - CC/Saints away/Grand Final.....!

Your post sums up "mean spirited".

You call his MOM performance against the worlds top team an "ok performance".

The skill on display from both teams in shocking conditions was awesome. Hardly a dropped ball all game. And Matty shone throughout. But it was "ok". Are you Garry Schofield in disguise?

The big thing that struck me, watching the game back on TV last night, was actually what a high-quality contest in was from both sides in very difficult conditions. The weather never looks so bad on TV, but remembering how bad it really was, it was a credit to both teams.