Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:02 am  

Grimmy wrote:

Last season Smith kicked 70%, this season he is currently 70%, so wouldn't agree that he has improved kicking-wise. However, kicking as a whole in the league isn't as good this season with Sneyd having a mare at FC, Mantallato off the boil at KR, Bridge dropped at Wire and Tickle missing most of the season at Widnes. As such by comparison Smith is a below average kicker this season whereas he was one of the worst last season.

He had a cracker with the boot last night though, against a far better kicker in Sinfield as well, long may it continue!

Sounds like you've done your homework. Fair enough.

It seems like he has improved - but if the stats say otherwise - then ok.

One thing I will argue for him though - he's got bottle. And that's an admirable quality.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:15 am  

The players responded perfectly to the criticisms on here during the week. Do they read these boards?

When things click we can do some damage and the team are still better than last night's performance. I thought Leeds were decent too, so it's a good barometer of what we're capable of.

We need to kick on now in the Super 8's.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:43 am  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

Sounds like you've done your homework. Fair enough.

It seems like he has improved - but if the stats say otherwise - then ok.

One thing I will argue for him though - he's got bottle. And that's an admirable quality.

Agreed, there was a ton of pressure on him there, from the context of the game, the crowd, and the Leeds players who spent a long time offside arguing with the ref (I'd have marched them 10 if I was him but that would have been controversial). He didn't go missing during the game either which is what I'm most happy about.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:59 am  

Grimmy wrote:

Agreed, there was a ton of pressure on him there, from the context of the game, the crowd, and the Leeds players who spent a long time offside arguing with the ref (I'd have marched them 10 if I was him but that would have been controversial). He didn't go missing during the game either which is what I'm most happy about.

I suppose we should just be grateful the Rhinos didn't get away with wobbling the posts, the way they did when Pat was attempting a last minute penalty against them a few years ago. I'll give Leeds one thing, they know every trick in the book.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:31 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Agreed, there was a ton of pressure on him there, from the context of the game, the crowd, and the Leeds players who spent a long time offside arguing with the ref (I'd have marched them 10 if I was him but that would have been controversial). He didn't go missing during the game either which is what I'm most happy about.

I'd have done that too. Why would it have been controversial?

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:37 pm  

proper-shaped-balls wrote:

I'd have done that too. Why would it have been controversial?

McDermott would have had a proper dummy spit. I've never heard that man applaud any team that beat Whinos. It's always the ref or some other lame excuse.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:59 pm  

Agree on Bateman; he looked good in the centres. Tough as old boots, and he sure can play, too! ISTR there was a game earlier in the season where he was moved to the centres early doors after an injury, and did well then too.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:11 pm  

proper-shaped-balls wrote:

I'd have done that too. Why would it have been controversial?

Can't remember the last time I saw a Super League ref march a team 10, so to suddenly do it in the dying seconds of a level game to bring a penalty from miss-able to relatively safe could be considered more than a bit harsh.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:19 pm  

It's not rocket science. We looked better in all areas because the forwards made some hard meters. Our organisation on the pitch still needs looking at though. Tautai should never receive a pass from the PTB on the sixth tackle in our own 20.

Re: Wigan v Leeds : Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:29 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Can't remember the last time I saw a Super League ref march a team 10, so to suddenly do it in the dying seconds of a level game to bring a penalty from miss-able to relatively safe could be considered more than a bit harsh.

Rules is Rules.
Mind you, if the same was applied to your average Stainers' match, whiny Wellens would have given away most of the park