Re: M7atty Svmith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:22 pm  

PurpleCheeseWarrior wrote:

Revisionist bullsh*t. He was very good his first 18 months - 2 years here, but year after year of losing our best players meant he had to take on more responsibility than he perhaps should have, his form suffered as a consequence. Overall he's been very solid for us, if you think we're bad now I dread to think what we'd have been like without him for the past 2 seasons.

Probably the right time for him to leave though, next year is the year of the Shorrocks!

Nope not BS just the cold hard truth that guys like you can't take. I can name 3 or 4 truly top quality performances from him and all seem to have come in wet conditions. Compare that to someone like Williams who in 18 months has produced some top quality efforts and moments and it's game set match.

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:36 pm  

Didn't these "Sky sources" also say Saints were signing Tommy Leuluai?

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:14 pm  

Excellent news if true, a double whammy of us not having a poor half back and Saints getting one. A nice lad I'm sure, but he is massively overrated

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:28 pm  

Shouldn't this be in the rumours thread, though?

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:35 pm  

As harsh as it may seem, I'll be quiet happy to see him leave. It's true he has played a handful of decent games for us and I seem to recall they were all in pouring rain! He won the Lance Todd Trophy v Hull so has definitely contributed towards the success of the club.
However he is just too slow. His passing accuracy for a scrum half is awful, he can't take a line on and his long kicks are far too often straight to hand. He's a full effort player but just not good enough.

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:48 pm  

His failures haven't been for the want of trying and for that he gets my respect. In the right team he did OK for us but things have really fell apart these past couple of seasons and it's actually been pretty sad to see because I sense he's a guy that genuinely cares about the club and the supporters.

I wish him well at Saints (sort of) if it comes off and I would hope he'll always get a decent reception from the Wigan supporters.

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:51 pm  

Not surprised by the move but 4 year deal?! That is ridiculous for a lad out of form at his age.

He has been OK for us with a dominant half along side him. Proven awful without apart from the odd match here and there. Will be interesting to see who they partner with him as Soward doesn't really take on the line either if he does end up at Saints.

TL is a massive improvement and to lose Smith's salary which will not be insignificant is a real positive for the club.

I'm sure he will have a few good games against us as when he seems up for it he does improve and I'm sure playing against us next year he could do us some harm, ultimately though apart from the 1 off here and there a real boost to see the back of him.

4 years......4 years? If true, ridiculous bit of business.

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:00 pm  

I'm not very excited about Smith coming to us as he's been poor for a while now. He's just your average 7 with basic skills but no flair.

Four years is ridiculous for a out of form 29yr old.

I just hope that it's Wane boring over structured attack which has caused his massive dip in form. Maybe a less structured attack like ours will allow him to express himself more but I pretty much doubt it.

At the end of the day, the is no way a club like Wigan would just release a player like Smith amd allow him go saints who are big rivals. It's clear Wigan don't see him as a future threat.

Re: Matty Smith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:22 pm  

St pete wrote:

I'm not very excited about Smith coming to us as he's been poor for a while now. He's just your average 7 with basic skills but no flair.

Four years is ridiculous for a out of form 29yr old.

I just hope that it's Wane boring over structured attack which has caused his massive dip in form. Maybe a less structured attack like ours will allow him to express himself more but I pretty much doubt it.

At the end of the day, the is no way a club like Wigan would just release a player like Smith amd allow him go saints who are big rivals. It's clear Wigan don't see him as a future threat.

I think Wigan just decided they wanted Leuluai more. It seems very much like Wigan have probably outbid Saints for Leuluai and offered Smith to you as a back up option.

Re: Matty Svmith : Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:31 pm  

[quote="PurpleCheeseWarrior"]Revisionist bullsh*t. He was very good his first 18 months - 2 years here, but year after year of losing our best players meant he had to take on more responsibility than he perhaps should have, his form suffered as a consequence.[quote]

He was ok playing alongside Blake Green and behind a strong pack where his limited ability could be hidden. When Green left and he was expected to take on the role of senior half-back, he was found wanting.

No doubt he'll suddenly put in MOM performances next season, and boss the Saints/Wigan games!