Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 6:32 am  

jonh wrote:

Yep. Massive opportunity for Smith. Potentially career defining.

He has had opportunities in the past and not taken them, he has to take this one in my opinion.

Good start on Monday long may it continue.

Yeah, see hopefully he can click in a side playing better attacking rugby. Iv got to say with the hype he had when coming into the team he’s been a little disappointing but it is a tough position to come into first team rugby and make an instant impact.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 6:35 am  

I get the sentiment of how big the opportunity is, but the lad has a 4 year deal at the club. Nothing is changing, unless Smith wants it to.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 1:03 pm  

There’s time for Smith yet, to much was put onto him last year in a team that was playing badly imo.

The next few months are a great opportunity for him, the team is far more cohesive than last year. Hopefully he will take his chance but I don’t think it’s this or nothing.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 1:44 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I get the sentiment of how big the opportunity is, but the lad has a 4 year deal at the club. Nothing is changing, unless Smith wants it to.

Which if he is sat on the bench not getting any games labelled as a back up half is highly likely to happen.

He has the opportunity to put himself forward as a starting 7 next year.

If he has another average/poor run I would expect we will be looking to recruit to replace Tommy.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:12 pm  

jonh wrote:

Which if he is sat on the bench not getting any games labelled as a back up half is highly likely to happen.

He has the opportunity to put himself forward as a starting 7 next year.

If he has another average/poor run I would expect we will be looking to recruit to replace Tommy.

Oh undoubtedly, but that does come down to Smith. He can be a leech like Escare, or a clever lad like Davies. Funny hoe those careers worked out in the end eh. Either way, they choice will be his and Wigan will have to work around that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:19 pm  

The chances are that another halfback comes in even if Smith smashed the rest of this season to bits. A lot will depend on French and if he goes home or not. If he does, then Field is a fullback and a fullback only, so you couldn’t go in to a season with Field, Cust and Smith as your 1,6 and 7 with no recognised back up whatsoever.

What Smith can do this season is give you confidence that he can take a starting shirt and maybe leave you looking for a cheaper back up player, rather than looking for a guy you have confidence in to replace an experienced head like Leuluai. You can then spend any surplus elsewhere.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:37 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The chances are that another halfback comes in even if Smith smashed the rest of this season to bits. A lot will depend on French and if he goes home or not. If he does, then Field is a fullback and a fullback only, so you couldn’t go in to a season with Field, Cust and Smith as your 1,6 and 7 with no recognised back up whatsoever.

What Smith can do this season is give you confidence that he can take a starting shirt and maybe leave you looking for a cheaper back up player, rather than looking for a guy you have confidence in to replace an experienced head like Leuluai. You can then spend any surplus elsewhere.

Mason Lino all day long and twice on a Sunday. Will take a transfer fee, but seems like a direct replacement for Tommy.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 9:25 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Mason Lino all day long and twice on a Sunday. Will take a transfer fee, but seems like a direct replacement for Tommy.

He seems a good little player,ok wakey got steamrolled the other day but he does look good times I’ve seen him

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Apr 22, 2022 10:07 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Mason Lino all day long and twice on a Sunday. Will take a transfer fee, but seems like a direct replacement for Tommy.

Dennis Moran.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Apr 23, 2022 8:01 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Mason Lino all day long and twice on a Sunday. Will take a transfer fee, but seems like a direct replacement for Tommy.

Fully agree. Didn’t take too much notice of him last season but everytime I’ve seen him this season I’ve been really impressed.

In other news; Ratchford dropped today by Warrington. We know he has a good relationship already with the club, may well be a goer that one.