Hope he is back next week or that Agar looks at someone else for fullback. Mathers always gives 100% even if it doesn't come off everytime and I now he isn't the greatest of defenders but he gives alot to the attack. Until Sykes is back Smith is needed in the team for his kicking which is very good, just would prefer him in a different position.

Agree, he's been really lazy since hes been at Fullback.

I thought last season Lee Smith was brilliant for us at centre. Probably due to him being in the last chance saloon and wanting to impress. This season he's been shuffled around and looks a different player in my opinion. I'd like to see him stay a centre and hope he improves otherwise i'd let him move on.

If Mathers is fit for next week, we should have a decent 3/4 line, if Smith is moved to centre. The forwards need to be up to the task against a very robust HKR pack.

Lee Smith is a class act - he does good things - but his work rate is poor compared to Mathers and Mathers also wins hands down on the bravery front.

Mathers is also an important piece of the team management on the pitch.

Looking forward to his return!

I saw Mathers in the Walton Street car park after the game on Friday and asked about his injury since I thought he was due back. He said that he had a foot injury now but hoped to be back for this coming weekend. Fingers crossed.

Wow its not two minutes since most fans on here were slating Mathers, now he's out injured and Smith who is after all just covering the position is getting panned for not doing the job as good as the player who after all was supposedly a waste of money, typical wakey fans' eh! on the bright side at least their not embarrassing themselves' slating Foxy and Aiton and the like, wonder whose turn it is next?

Personally I would prefer to have Cockayne at FB instead of Smith in the absence of Mathers, not sure but I don't think that Smith will have volunteered for the job, more likely he has gone there on the coach's instruction, that been the likely case don't you think that any criticism should go to the coach and not the player, just a thought really. Btw dont always believe what snowie tells you about the OP, and if you are hankering to be his agent I can tell you the hours will be long and the pay very poor.

I blame smith for not putting his body on the line and ambling when returning the ball. He played lots of rugby for Leeds as a full back on plenty of occasions, so it's not like he hasn't played the role before.

As I said he is also greedy and we have bombed a few try's cos he tried to go himself when it was easier to pass and let someone else get the glory.

I liked him at centre - not impressed at fb; he appears to be unwilling to put his body on the line and his positional play when defending is awful.

I wonder if those people bagging Mathers will now have more appreciation of his qualities?

Not the best analogy really. I'd rather be comparing ok versus brilliant rather than not as good as people think versus very poor indeed.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!

There is your answer Bren
Once people make up their minds about players that is it.
Sat year on year in the east stand near a guy who constantly bagged Billy Conway.
Billy could make ten blistering breaks from dummy half , top the tackle count and this guy would always home in on one tackle Billy may of missed or one wayward pass.
We all moved seats eventually.
My son went to sit in the stand recently and the guy was still there.
You've guessed it His latest target was Mathers.

That's amazing. I have never heard anyone bagging Billy Conway.
As you say, some people just make up their mind and see nothing else.

Saying that, I think the stint on the side may have done Mathers some good. He clearly has holes in his game, but when compared to someone else it suddenly becomes obvious what his good skills are.