What about the half back who we will be facing tomorrow, where does DB come into your 'reckoning'?
We also 'lost' him.

Whilst I would agree that Tim Smith has been good for us, I was always frustrated that (to me) he never seemed to take a game by the scruff of the neck and run the game. Not like Andy Gregory, Sean Long, Peter Sterling or even Bobby Goulding in his prime. I always feel that there was more to come from him but it never seemed to come.

I was fortunate enough to be in Australia in August and went to a couple of games and spoke to a lot of RL fans in Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle and to a man none of them rated him, some even laughed when I said he was playing for us. One even laughed when I said we had him and said "you poor b**gers".

He burst on the scene and was billed as the next best thing but for whatever reason it never quite happened for him in Australia.
I feel there's more inside him waiting to come out, perhaps Noble can do it at Salford.
Anyway, thanks Tim for pulling the shirt on and having a go for Trinity

I have witnesses who can testify that I have been saying for several months that Tim Smith IS our biggest problem.

Yes, he's talented and yes, he was great last season, but where has it been hiding this year? I know he's not had Sykes to play with, but I still expect more from him.

The main thing I notice is that when Tim is going well he is chelping all the time - pointing, cadjoling - but this season I have seen none of this, even when he has had his better games.

Did we not say after the Leeds games that what we lacked was a rugby brain - someone to take control and direct us towards a winning position? Is that not the role that Tim should play, and was playing last season when it mattered?

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to sell him, but I certainly thought we didn't see anything like from him this season and, despite his Albert Goldthorpe points, I don't think he's in our op 5 players this season.

The problem is, when we become so reliant on a single player and that player doesn't perform, we sometimes lack the ability to find another way - we did it with Solo and we did it with Willie - yet when they left, we survived as other players stood up to the plate.

I think we do need a SH, and I hope we will look for one before the new season starts, but TS on his own is not the disaster many would believe - IMO of course.

I also agree Tim Smith has been a real problem for us.
Yes he's talented and has a nice pass but hes game management is lacking.
And we don't have the players to complement him.
We have lost better players then him in the past.
I hope we bring in some new halfbacks in the off season plus it frees up an overseas spot for a top quality signing.
I think it's a good bit of business by Mr Carter although his hand may have been forced.
Anyone know how much we got for him? 150k+?

I heard £100k

I honestly can't see us bringing in anyone. We will go with wildie sykes and goulding and have all our fingers and toes crossed that we are at least 3rd from bottom. We need to change our way of thinking and put more money into retaining the great u16s at the club. Get the best on 6 year deals and do a Leeds or Wigan and bring through quality home grown players.

Whatever the transfer fee, we have also saved a few months salary by TS going 'immediately'

Wildie is OOC at the end of this season and no offers made to him yet.

Well I've been watching Trinity for 35years now and Smith is one of the most skillful I've seen in a Wakefield shirt. That doesn't mean he is the most effective.
With a team more in tune with him I think he'd have been even better.
Given time we'd have built the team though.

Not irreplaceable but I enjoyed watching him.

At this point in the season you would think he won't be getting that offer, even if he does its now only because needs must.

Always thought Matty would have been good enough to earn a squad players contract.

Isn't Goulding OOC as well?

Quote: 1 4 the road "Isn't Goulding OOC as well?'" Yep he is. viewtopic.php?f=33&t=552466&tsmp=1377964062

Quote: 1 4 the road "Isn't Goulding OOC as well?'" Yep he is. viewtopic.php?f=33&t=552466&tsmp=1377964062

We only have half a halfback next year (Sykes)

Yep a converted centre, it can only get better

Exactly this. Smith is much more effective with a competent half alongside him to share the burden, hence when sykes was available he was very good. But when alongside luminaries like lee smith and washbrook everything has to go through him and team can target that and close down his space. But once alongside a guy who can give another option he is a real handful and one of the most naturally gifted ball players i've seen down bv. And one that was rarely injured.

Despite the positive spin that some people would like put on this we are a lesser side without him. And with the money we have, or rather don't have, available we will not get anyone near his calibre to replace him.