Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:07 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I don't think he's as slow as you think. Do you remember his intercept try from 80 metres (v Leeds?) last year and nobody got close to catching him.

Genuinely don’t know where this lack of pace perception comes from. He’s no slower (or quicker) than George Williams was/is. I think the problem is people are looking at him expecting him to be as good as GW is now and the fact is he isn’t yet and won’t be probably for 2-3 seasons. He is going to make errors both of judgment and handling but for me he has the potential and ability to be as good as if not better than GW.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:31 am  

His running game looks a lot sharper so far this year. He’s a real throwback in how he takes on the line IMO. He doesn’t go from half way and try and get on the outside with pace like a Williams or a young Tomkins but he gets in to the line in tight spots and jinks and weaves his way through. You look at the second Farrell try on Thursday and that’s the type of running game he bring. Gets in to the line, attracts defenders and pops the ball off to Hastings. He did the same for Bullocks try against Leigh. You add in his little chip and chases and moments of individualism and it’s like watching a scrum half in the 80’s/90’s.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:53 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I don't think he's as slow as you think. Do you remember his intercept try from 80 metres (v Leeds?) last year and nobody got close to catching him.

I'm not saying he's slow, just that he lacks a bit of pace for a half, especially compared to NRL where presumably he seems himself going in the future.

I just watched his interception try. We were 26-0 down and a few Leeds players didn't bother to chase back except Dwyer who isn't a slouch but didn't get near him.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:02 pm  

WIgan did this with Josh Woods, signed a 3 year deal then loaned out never to be seen again.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:05 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

Genuinely don’t know where this lack of pace perception comes from. He’s no slower (or quicker) than George Williams was/is. I think the problem is people are looking at him expecting him to be as good as GW is now and the fact is he isn’t yet and won’t be probably for 2-3 seasons. He is going to make errors both of judgment and handling but for me he has the potential and ability to be as good as if not better than GW.

George Williams was not far off a regular when he was 19 (played 23 games) and Smith has just turned 21. GW cemented the #6 shirt when he was 20 and won Young Player of the Year. If you're comparing them at the same age then GW development was a lot further ahead IMO.

Williams arguably had some worse players around him as well (Matty Smith at 7, Bowen/Tierney/Hampshire at 1).

Obviously Covid and not having academy games to fall back on has definitely not helped Smith either.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:06 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

George Williams was not far off a regular when he was 19 (played 23 games) and Smith has just turned 21. GW cemented the #6 shirt when he was 20 and won Young Player of the Year. If you're comparing them at the same age then GW development was a lot further ahead IMO.

Williams arguably had some worse players around him as well (Matty Smith at 7, Bowen/Tierney/Hampshire at 1).

Obviously Covid and not having academy games to fall back on has definitely not helped Smith either.

Yeah I get that but equally Williams didn’t have much stopping him at that age as in HB’s in front of him. There were Green and (Matty) Smith who were both outgoing by the time Williams became a first team regular. Smith has had Williams, Hastings, Tommy and French (though bit part I’ll have) in front of him. Williams got his chance and took it when the starting berth became permanently open to him, as of yet Smith hasn’t had that luck and therefore full chance to develop as Williams did

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:00 am  

Always think it’s easier for a young running half to break through (Williams) than it is for a young half who is more of a game manager/organiser (Smith). In Williams case he could leave all the organising side of the game to Matty Smith, Blake Green or guys like Lockers and just do his thing and impress that way. In Harry Smiths case you have him dropping in to a side where there are dominant halfbacks already and they’ve been running the side, so his influence is automatically limited. He isn’t going to break teams open from distance with his own running game, so he’s feeding off scraps sometimes. When he has then had opportunities to be the conductor for the side, the pressure is huge and you can’t just do what Williams could and concentrate on your own running game as you need to organise and manage the players around you. It gives him the opportunity to impress but it also puts a real spotlight on any errors. I think he’s coped with that pretty well when he’s had the chance but it’s not easy and he’ll need a real run of games (probably a seasons worth or more) where he’s running the side for us to really see what he’s made of.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:30 am  

Binosh wrote:

WIgan did this with Josh Woods, signed a 3 year deal then loaned out never to be seen again.

To be fair there is a lot more excitement around Smith than there was Woods, and he has already done more at SL level than Woods did. He could end up performing badly and being loaned out of course, but I definitely think he will get a run in the first team first.

Re: Smith Signs New Deal : Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:30 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Always think it’s easier for a young running half to break through (Williams) than it is for a young half who is more of a game manager/organiser (Smith). In Williams case he could leave all the organising side of the game to Matty Smith, Blake Green or guys like Lockers and just do his thing and impress that way. In Harry Smiths case you have him dropping in to a side where there are dominant halfbacks already and they’ve been running the side, so his influence is automatically limited. He isn’t going to break teams open from distance with his own running game, so he’s feeding off scraps sometimes. When he has then had opportunities to be the conductor for the side, the pressure is huge and you can’t just do what Williams could and concentrate on your own running game as you need to organise and manage the players around you. It gives him the opportunity to impress but it also puts a real spotlight on any errors. I think he’s coped with that pretty well when he’s had the chance but it’s not easy and he’ll need a real run of games (probably a seasons worth or more) where he’s running the side for us to really see what he’s made of.

Agree completely with this. I'd add too that even half backs who eventually develop into strong organisers don't always show that side of their game as early as Smith has. Remains to be seen whether he'll end up to be Wigan standard long term, but the early signs are promising.