Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:06 am  

MadDogg wrote:

At the moment I can only assume it will be Sam Tomkins who will kick.

The thought fills me with dread! His technique is appalling and I can only think back to the Grand Final of 2010 when I ponder it.

If we sign nobody it'll be one if him, Leuluai, Williams or Powell. We better get ready to be winning games by going up in fours.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:17 am  

I have it on good authority that next seasons goal kicker will be Tony Clubb, following his superb kicking in last years GF.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:19 am  

My thoughts on Smith

Pro's

Nice guy, probably good behind the scenes
Decent goal kicker
Brilliant injury record
Great long kicking game. (50 metres plus)

Cons

Zero pace to take the line on
Zero medium kicking game I.e spiral bombs
Zero creativity
Zero passing game, never throws the killer pass for a try. Something like 8 try assists when playing stand off for Wigan for 24 games is embarrassing.

If we can keep Tommy fit, it's and upgrade but that's quiete an if.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:31 am  

NSW wrote:

My thoughts on Smith

Pro's

Nice guy, probably good behind the scenes
Decent goal kicker
Brilliant injury record
Great long kicking game. (50 metres plus)

Cons

Zero pace to take the line on
Zero medium kicking game I.e spiral bombs
Zero creativity
Zero passing game, never throws the killer pass for a try. Something like 8 try assists when playing stand off for Wigan for 24 games is embarrassing.

If we can keep Tommy fit, it's and upgrade but that's quiete an if.

Is it just me? I think Smith's long kicking game is average at best! His kicks go straight to the full back or winger far too often. He rarely kicks it into space and a 40/20 is as rare as rocking horse cack!!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:39 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Is it just me? I think Smith's long kicking game is average at best! His kicks go straight to the full back or winger far too often. He rarely kicks it into space and a 40/20 is as rare as rocking horse cack!!

Agreed. I think his kicking is generally very average. Like the rest of his game it has become increasingly poor.

I've not seen him kick well since the final test V's the Kiwis where he kicked them to death.

Without doubt he has ability on this and other departments but it is just not happening for him anymore at Wigan.

Working with Long and a change of scenery may be exactly what he needs as he is clearly stagnating here.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:54 am  

jonh wrote:

Agreed. I think his kicking is generally very average. Like the rest of his game it has become increasingly poor.

I've not seen him kick well since the final test V's the Kiwis where he kicked them to death.

Without doubt he has ability on this and other departments but it is just not happening for him anymore at Wigan.

Working with Long and a change of scenery may be exactly what he needs as he is clearly stagnating here.

Could it be the over structured play under Wane that's caused his dip in form? You only have to look at this board to see that a majority of Wigan fans think you play to a very structured attack.

Maybe Matty is doing what he's told by Wane. Let's new honest if it is the orders of Wane and Matty doesn't play his way, then he'd be off.

I've seen Matty play since he was 14 and he always liked to take on the line but last few years that's stopped. Maybe it's your structure or maybe Matty has lost his pace.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:03 am  

St pete wrote:

Could it be the over structured play under Wane that's caused his dip in form? You only have to look at this board to see that a majority of Wigan fans think you play to a very structured attack.

Maybe Matty is doing what he's told by Wane. Let's new honest if it is the orders of Wane and Matty doesn't play his way, then he'd be off.

I've seen Matty play since he was 14 and he always liked to take on the line but last few years that's stopped. Maybe it's your structure or maybe Matty has lost his pace.

I think it is a bit of both and it is a fair point.

I also think it is an indication of Smiths flaws that he can't stand up and change things when it is not going right. Good halves control games even if it means changing it up, they adapt, Smith seems happy to just keep ticking over and passing the buck on to others expecting them to do something rather than doing it himself.

I think the move is a good one for Wigan and will probably be a good one for Smith, he thrived under Long at Salford he may well again at Saints. He clearly has ability he is just not able to show it at Wigan anymore probably as a result of our style and his weakness.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:21 am  

St pete wrote:

Could it be the over structured play under Wane that's caused his dip in form? You only have to look at this board to see that a majority of Wigan fans think you play to a very structured attack.

Maybe Matty is doing what he's told by Wane. Let's new honest if it is the orders of Wane and Matty doesn't play his way, then he'd be off.

I've seen Matty play since he was 14 and he always liked to take on the line but last few years that's stopped. Maybe it's your structure or maybe Matty has lost his pace.

I thought about this a lot and there might be something in it. However, any scrum half worth his salt should have the ability to create a gap either for himself or for others. If he is playing to a strict structure then I'm sure even under Shaun Wane he would have a licence to run through a gap if one presents itself? Williams does it and has been encouraged by SW to do more of it. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out and to see how he goes under a different regime.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:48 am  

It has been reported that wa e wanted his players to work more off the cuff and play what they see when the opportunity arises.

We can see Williams does this, I just think Smith has neither the pace or vision and skills to do the same, hence we are ok to let him go.

He's been a great club man and team player, but not an exciting one.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:51 pm  

jonh wrote:

Agreed. I think his kicking is generally very average. Like the rest of his game it has become increasingly poor.

I've not seen him kick well since the final test V's the Kiwis where he kicked them to death.

Without doubt he has ability on this and other departments but it is just not happening for him anymore at Wigan.

Working with Long and a change of scenery may be exactly what he needs as he is clearly stagnating here.

He kicks pretty well from distance IMO when given the opportunity to do so. By that I mean that the forwards make decent ground from our line and he's not being forced to kick from his own 30 metres.

The England pack gave him that in that game whereas out forwards generally haven't a lot of the time. That part of his game aside though, he is generally very average and in some areas he's poor.