Tim Smith is a one trick pony, well two. A good cut out pass and an inside ball.

However despite defending him earlier this season he doesn't tackle or run in any direction and it's becoming a joke.

Truth is Rangi Chase is ten times the player and it hurts to say. Worse still he doesn't compete with previous Trinity halves either. Nowhere near as good as Brough who we have never managed to replace. Not as good as Jeffries and just about on a par with Rooney who at least scored occasionally.

Smith can go for me, I'm bored of this when I can be bothered stuff, he need to man up and lead the team.

I agree to an extent with this about Smith (particularly the comparisons with Brough and Chase), would argue that his is a better player than both Jeffries and also Rooney but not a right lot in it. I would be prepared to give Smith the benefit of the doubt for some time yet, and reserve judgement until Sykes comes back. I for one didn't rate Sykes particularly, but the dip in Smith's form has come at the same time as Sykes is missing so this for me is enough to save him from criticism. As for defence, he's not there to tackle and plenty have massive question marks over them in that department so prepared to give him that.

The one that is disappointing me is Poore, he is on a real downward spiral after starting fairly sprightly. I cannot help but think there is some truth in the rumours that he is on an extended site seeing tour with their lass until returning back down under next year - something is clearly affecting his performance on the field. In the last 2 games I don't think he has won a collision, yet he has continued to give away penalties, and not ones you can accept from an "enforcer" type of player, they are lazy needless ones that are simply daft and unavoidable more often than not.

I realise that he is a bit of a folk hero after paggaring Bailey and Farrell, but there are far too similarities between him and Korkidas for me. I fully expect the fanboys to be along in a moment sticking up for him too.

Who's ever heard of a former State of Origin prop that has been dominated by George Griffin and Ryan Boyle and others of their ilk?

I could have picked others, but if you read my comment properly I was talking about our wingers before mentioning our beaten pack. Even your extensive Rugby League knowledge will stretch to the fact we only have two wingers and at the time I made the comment Fox was the worse of the two.

I'll pull you up on a few points things, Jeffries was way more varied and IMHO a better player for us but hey opinions.

Where I can't agree is his tackling. Yes he isn't expected to be Kirmond or Aiton in that department but he should still be able to tackle or try to tackle when required and he simply isn't doing that.

True Sykes does seem to bring out the best but come on he's not running Smith by remote control - he shouldn't lose all ability to play the game because Sykes isn't playing.

He had a poorish game against Carney which is odd because he had his best against him earlier in the season, but for me Ben was poorer all game.

Truth is when the team is playing so bad Wingers and Fullbacks are always made to look worst.

I actually agree with you matey, he has been a penalty machine, and even when he wins the collision his play the balls are that slow that teams defensive lines are already set and waiting. Just been a bit disappointed

Is Poore fit enough? He looks lethargic and slow. Is he carrying too much timber?

think he wants to go back home

I actually thought Poore apart from Tautai was the only forward who wasn't bullied yesterday. I saw Raleigh struggled every time he took the ball up. My only beef with Poore is that he takes too long to play the ball but he doesn't give an inch and he didn't defend badly either. Maybe not a state of origin standard prop but he's definitely not the weakest in the pack, not at all for me.

On Tim Smith, people can say what they like but when the forwards are as dire as ours have been for much of this season I don't know what he's supposed to do. He's already showed he's capable when we win the arm wrestle but Ii think this season we've just been out-muscled all too easily. I wish he'd take the line on more though.

Problem with Poore is that he is an NRL style prop, not really suited the the English game imho. He will think he is doing great as he plays longer stints than usual. In the NRL he is a clockwork forward who gets up and runs the ball in hard for two 20 minute spells with no off loading game. That's what he does and is doing. His play the ball is fairly quick for a big man as is every other part of his game but only for 20 mins max. He hasn't dissapointed me as such he just wasn't what we needed IMHO but that's with the benefit of hindsight. This new lad Tititutu or whatever he's called will do far better because he's more off the cuff which is what English fans love they just don't always know it.

Poore will go back to the NRL, do very well just like all the other NRL robot forwards who have failed to make an impression have done (Mark Carol the obvious one).

We (as a game) never learn, we as a club fail with high profile players yet if Mr T is owt to go by still have a knack with the nobodies. Agar could learn from Kear on that one, we are on a tight budget here and you need to think outside the norm.

That's just making excuses for your particular golden boy. Yes it doesn't help but it's no excuse for not tackling or running at the line or any of the other basics he isn't carrying out. Come on he needs a kick up the bum. If you're going to be the No1 players that's part of the price - you have to be there on your game at least 80% of the time, not the current 40%.

agree with a lot of what you say tommy but what ilk do you put george griffin in he did dominate our pack n that first half but george is no journeyman prop hes only 20yrs old and in my eyes as got a big career ahead in the game dont put him in the same ilk as ryan boyle and others

Hi guy's as a Cas fan(and no not here to gloat) i think you are missing Sykes badly.
With him out of your team you look woeful at times. No structure going forward and missing him with his defensive skills(from what i have seen).
As for the Agar out thread. Watch the half time section very carefully where it shows you Agar in the dressing room,read his body language and that of the players and lip read Agar,he has lost most players attention.

Good luck for rest of season,except your last home league game of course

My golden boy? How did you come by this information?