Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:26 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

You do makes some good points here mate. I guess time will tell. And I do like Smithies, I like his aggressive attitude, his will to win and his amazing work ethic; all traits I want to see in a player. He's a young player who gets it. He's been given an opportunity and isn't going to waste it-that to be speaks volumes.

Maybe this season will provide more information on if he's really cut out to be a 13 or not.

Correct mate. He has the potential to be the next (or next, next) 13. I think 2020 will be a trial run for a few players to see who’s best suited. There’s a few candidates who could fulfil that role

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:25 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Correct mate. He has the potential to be the next (or next, next) 13. I think 2020 will be a trial run for a few players to see who’s best suited. There’s a few candidates who could fulfil that role

I currently don't see him as a 13... but lets see how his game develops

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Fri Nov 29, 2019 4:01 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Incredibly tough to judge just what Smithies can and can’t do just yet in a first team jersey. The lad was an 18 year old kid when he was asked to train with the first team. He hadn’t had a pre season with the first team and he was thrown in the deep end playing in the middle of the field against men. I thought he was pretty incredible in both attack and defence in all honesty. I’m sure as he develops he’ll show more facets to his game and open up with the ball a little more. He’ll never be an O’Loughlin style ball player but O’Loughlin at 18 wouldn’t have been the O’Loughlin that was one of the world best players a few seasons back.

I wouldn’t worry about his average metres per carry either. That will improve as he develops anyway but he’s got an attitude and an engine money can’t buy. One of superleagues best ever players in Jamie Peacock had that attitude and engine and his metres per carry was pretty low also. His strength was that he was available for tough carries in both the first minute and the last. This kid isn’t a prop but he has that sort of attitude about him. I’d personally protect him and play him wider to start this season but long term the kid will make a fine loose forward IMO.

Correct Nicky. You pretty much describe Adrian Morley there too. (one of the most feared forwards ever to play the game) I remember him coming through at Leeds. A lanky second rower with not much in the way of go forward but was as tough as old boots at a very young age. The rest of his game developed with experience.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Fri Nov 29, 2019 4:40 pm  

Pie_Eyter wrote:

Correct Nicky. You pretty much describe Adrian Morley there too. (one of the most feared forwards ever to play the game) I remember him coming through at Leeds. A lanky second rower with not much in the way of go forward but was as tough as old boots at a very young age. The rest of his game developed with experience.

Morgan Smithies is nothing like Adrian Morley or even a young AM.. Not in anyway shape or form as a RL player.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:28 am  

Morley was over-rated. Yeah he was tough and could hit hard but as a player he was nothing special.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 9:40 am  

Morley over rated deary me

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 9:56 am  

The_Enforcer wrote:

Morley was over-rated. Yeah he was tough and could hit hard but as a player he was nothing special.

According to the Enforcer but according to any player that is asked about him, it is a completely different story. When Gorden Tallis singles you out every time he plays against you then you must be a huge threat to the opposition.

Also i am not comparing Smithies to Morley. I was commenting on the development side of his game........ which is the case for any forward who has ever played RL. For me, Morgan Smithies improved at a rate of knots last season and can only get better. Starting 13 for me.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:34 am  

The_Enforcer wrote:

Morley was over-rated. Yeah he was tough and could hit hard but as a player he was nothing special.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:15 pm  

Ok, for all the Morley fans, show me a video of him doing something that is not just a big hit.

I stand by what i said, other than his aggression he was nothing special. He wasnt a big metre gainer, not a deadly offloader, didnt have a great forwards passing game. Without his aggression, he would of been in the Lee Mossop mould.

Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club? : Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:25 pm  

The_Enforcer wrote:

Ok, for all the Morley fans, show me a video of him doing something that is not just a big hit.

I stand by what i said, other than his aggression he was nothing special. He wasnt a big metre gainer, not a deadly offloader, didnt have a great forwards passing game. Without his aggression, he would of been in the Lee Mossop mould.

What prop have we had in the Super League era as good as Morley? Andy Farrell for 10 games in 04, Fielden for 10 games in 06. We've had no one perform as well as him in that position for even one season, never mind a full career.