Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Sat Aug 07, 2021 8:33 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I just don't think we're comparing like for like here. I'm no Lam fan, but as an assistant he's won a world cup. Who's to say what he'd have been like as a no.2 behind Madge or Wane. We don't know and I don't think it's fair to compare.

The majority of us want Lam gone but I don't think that, from a Smith POV, he'd have been any better or worse with Harris or Deacon here. I like Smith and, like you, I'm not ready to give up on him but he's got plenty of support in Lam, Tommy and Hastings who are probably, along with Barrett, three of the best HBs the club's had in SL.

Good point well made in fairness.

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:41 pm  

Brick with eyes wrote:

That was early October 2013 and he was still with the club in Australia in February 2014 for the WCC . So probably BS

Fair enough, someone told me the story not long after. Had no reason to question it at the time.

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Sun Aug 08, 2021 6:58 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I just don't think we're comparing like for like here. I'm no Lam fan, but as an assistant he's won a world cup. Who's to say what he'd have been like as a no.2 behind Madge or Wane. We don't know and I don't think it's fair to compare.

The majority of us want Lam gone but I don't think that, from a Smith POV, he'd have been any better or worse with Harris or Deacon here. I like Smith and, like you, I'm not ready to give up on him but he's got plenty of support in Lam, Tommy and Hastings who are probably, along with Barrett, three of the best HBs the club's had in SL.

except Lam, Green, Finch, Williams, Sam, Smith (tony)....all are better than Tommy but quite a distance

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:34 am  

Pieman wrote:

except Lam, Green, Finch, Williams, Sam, Smith (tony)....all are better than Tommy but quite a distance

Cool story. Unsurprising that, you being you, it's the one thing you got out of all of that post. Your post doesn't have any relevance to the discussion btw. None of the above are at the club - so what impact are they having on Smith's day to day development?

Just to be clear too, you know what an opinion is right? Also notice the word 'probably' and the phrase 'three of the best' and not 'the three best'.

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:09 am  

Sam Tomkins has said in a recent podcast that Tommy Leuluai could be the coach of the year next season. He rates him that highly and said his understanding of the game is exceptional. Sam said he preps for a game and knows what his opposing player will do so plays with that in mind. He said TL does his prep and knows what every opposing player will do!
I mention this for two reasons. Firstly, the Harry Smith discussion above. TL must be working with Smith every day, yet as others have said, his game if littered with basic errors. Secondly, he’ll be on the coaching staff next year in a more formal capacity but I’m sure he’s contributing already, so hard to see Sam’s point?

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:28 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Cool story. Unsurprising that, you being you, it's the one thing you got out of all of that post. Your post doesn't have any relevance to the discussion btw. None of the above are at the club - so what impact are they having on Smith's day to day development?

Just to be clear too, you know what an opinion is right? Also notice the word 'probably' and the phrase 'three of the best' and not 'the three best'.

me being me? Barrett isnt at the club now but you mentioned him, I suspect he isnt having any impact on Smiths day to day either eh.....you said 3 of the best, I just named plenty who were better in superleague, so pretty much shows he isnt one of the best

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:22 am  

Considering that the squad for the game was disrupted by Field, Hardacre, Smithies coming back from long term injuries, Bateman only having played for a couple of games or so, Partington and Singleton suspended and Gildart out injured which resulted in positional changes before and during the game, they did not play all that bad considering the circumstances of recent weeks.

Who be a Coach when you cannot select a the best and most consistent team playing in their best positions week by week because of continual injuries and suspensions.

We should be thankful that with all the injuries and suspensions plus Covid19 as well, we have been fortunate to having played all our games so far with what is a depleted squad which has also not been helped by the injury to French and the retirement of Manfredi

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:39 am  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

We should be thankful that with all the injuries and suspensions plus Covid19 as well, we have been fortunate to having played all our games so far with what is a depleted squad which has also not been helped by the injury to French and the retirement of Manfredi

And yet

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Time some stop making excuses,. especially about Covid and faced the the truth about the state of the game today compared to a few seasons ago.

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:23 pm  

So we complain when players are missing through injury, but then, when they come back, it's a 'disruption'?

Re: 21 man squad to face Salford Friday : Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:10 pm  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Considering that the squad for the game was disrupted by Field, Hardacre, Smithies coming back from long term injuries, Bateman only having played for a couple of games or so, Partington and Singleton suspended and Gildart out injured which resulted in positional changes before and during the game, they did not play all that bad considering the circumstances of recent weeks.

Who be a Coach when you cannot select a the best and most consistent team playing in their best positions week by week because of continual injuries and suspensions.

We should be thankful that with all the injuries and suspensions plus Covid19 as well, we have been fortunate to having played all our games so far with what is a depleted squad which has also not been helped by the injury to French and the retirement of Manfredi

I’ve tried a few times now, even had my wife, brother, Dad and mates try and decipher what you’re saying but no one can.

- Are you saying that players coming back from injury are a disruption?
- Bateman has played in 9 matches this season.
- The mark of a good coach is one that gets the best of of all his squad, not those that are fully fit or are considered ‘the best’