: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:25 pm  

otleyrhino wrote:

I have just been told this very morning that we will be without Lee Smith next season, as he has signed for a London based Union team.
Personally I think this will be a big loss as he has been magnificent this last year.

Big mistake by smithy if true and will have the same impact as walker and pryce imo.
Money isn't everything!!

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:36 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

Money isn't everything!!

Perhaps not but when you're already a double champion (including a MOTM) and a current full international with an International hat trick to your name (and still unable to secure a permanent position with your club side despite all that) then I can't imagine a much better time to 'cash in' and accept a new challenge.

A new challenge which (I believe) will be a big disappointment both for the player and his new club if he goes to Union.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:43 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Perhaps not but when you're already a double champion (including a MOTM) and a current full international with an International hat trick to your name (and still unable to secure a consistent starting position with your club side despite all that) then I can't imagine a much better time to 'cash in' and accept a new challenge.

A new challenge which (I believe) will be a big disappointment both for the player and his new club if he goes to Union.

Edit: Internet playing up in the sticks today.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:47 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Perhaps not but when you're already a double champion (including a MOTM) and a current full international with an International hat trick to your name (and still unable to secure a permanent position with your club side despite all that) then I can't imagine a much better time to 'cash in' and accept a new challenge.

A new challenge which (I believe) will be a big disappointment both for the player and his new club if he goes to Union.

I'd agree with all of that. The one negative for Smith is that he is still relatively young and he is a 1st team squad player with the Champions. In fairness he probbly would hold down the wing position as long as he stayed injury free but there would always be the spectre of a bad game letting Hall in . If he does fail in Union - which is not guaranteed - but very possible, then he could end up in a worse position than Walker (who's actually fairly lucky to go to HKR IMO). Still with several years playing left in him, but dumped, out of confidence and unwanted.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:51 pm  

One of my teammates down here is a big Wasps fan. I have already promised him that I'll be holding him personally accountable if they nick Lee Smith off us. Although he reckons they're likely to still be short of cash even with Haskell, Flutey and Palmer go. THey have a £4M salary cap in the Premiership, but the word among Wasps fans is that they won't be in a position to spend anything close to it next year.

I wait to see if this rumour is true, but I am a little sceptical. It would be a big risk for Wasps too, having parted with 3 international players, none of whom could be credibly replaced by Lee Smith.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:58 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

One of my teammates down here is a big Wasps fan. I have already promised him that I'll be holding him personally accountable if they nick Lee Smith off us. Although he reckons they're likely to still be short of cash even with Haskell, Flutey and Palmer go. THey have a £4M salary cap in the Premiership, but the word among Wasps fans is that they won't be in a position to spend anything close to it next year.

I wait to see if this rumour is true, but I am a little sceptical. It would be a big risk for Wasps too, having parted with 3 international players, none of whom could be credibly replaced by Lee Smith.

Saracens paid for a 32 year old RL prop forward with dodgy knees and a dodgy back to solve their centre problem. Anything is possible mate.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:01 pm  

Meh, if he goes it just frees up more space for Ben Jones-Bishop to come through and play more first team rugby - no great loss.

As Gareth says, prior to last year's Grand Final there would have been much apathy at the prospect of Lee Smith leaving. All of a sudden on the basis of half a dozen games it becomes a major loss?

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:03 pm  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Saracens paid for a 32 year old RL prop forward with dodgy knees and a dodgy back to solve their centre problem. Anything is possible mate.

True. Didn't work too well though did it? I'm not ruling it out, I just think it'd be a bit of a surprise.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:07 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

As Gareth says, prior to last year's Grand Final there would have been much apathy at the prospect of Lee Smith leaving. All of a sudden on the basis of half a dozen games it becomes a major loss?

That would depend who you asked with regards Lee Smith.

If you want to canvas the opinion of know-nowts (where's G1 with his word when you need him) and take note of what they have to say then that's up to you.

: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:07 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Meh, if he goes it just frees up more space for Ben Jones-Bishop to come through and play more first team rugby - no great loss.

As Gareth says, prior to last year's Grand Final there would have been much apathy at the prospect of Lee Smith leaving. All of a sudden on the basis of half a dozen games it becomes a major loss?

Smith is now a proven SL player, and one of the best players in his position in the country. BJB has 2 or 3 SL games to his name and hasn't come back from a shoulder reconstruction as yet. I'd say at this point in time it would be a big loss.