Anyone who knows the game can see a saints reaction was inevitable.

We were the unlucky ones. Says little about either team. that situation has been played out tons of times with similar results.

Careful with statements like that, or ThePrinter will be on your case because the performances during the regular rounds in SL are really important and vital and everyone cares about them apart from me of course



Or perhaps not.

Sidestepping it? I have answered it very clearly, which is why you picked up on it in the first place. I think every player should be trying to prove something in every game, whether your name is Smith or something else.

I even gave you a further list of players especially who should have been trying to prove something with reasons. You however seem to think only one needs to prove something.

People have to remember here that Smith had the spot. He didn't lose it, he got injured. He is only just now fit again. Has BJB really done enough to warrant any different view from the coaching staff to what they had at the start of the season? I don't know personally so not giving an answer.

I just think it is typical of a high percentage of supporters that there has to be a scapegoat who gets the most critisism after a performance like that. And it is furthermore typical that to a select few other supporters that they do single out one individual when it happens, yet defend others to the hilt for performances that are even worse.

Why don't you offer an opinion? Judge on what you have seen, that's all you can.

I can - I would say BJB has impressed more than Smith on the wing so far this season. What's a deal-breaker for me is BJB's tight working bond with his centre (the ever impressive Watkins).

When you look at wingers you have to account for their link with their centre. I would be seriously concerned that Smith couldn't keep up with Watkins to get on the end of his supply. I mean that honestly, not tongue-in-cheek.

I'm not actually dissagreeing with you on any of that. I will however say that I still think out of Smith, BJB, Chisolm, even Hall, that Smith is the one who has that ability to create something out of nothing. At least I think he still has it, he's demonstrated it before.

Do I think Smith played well on Sunday? not at all. But again, I don't think Webb would have either, and Webb most certainly had miles worse games last year than Smith had on Sunday, and he did it on quite a few occassions. On that basis, I still see no reason why Smith is the one singled out from what was a poor performance from the majority of players.

I wouldn't worry about the result or performance too much, you got whacked by Saints at Widnes last season and it didn't turn out too badly for you in the end

Smith is still a decent player, I remember him hurting Saints on many occasions in the past. He just needs a bit of support and you'll get that player back. He looked knackered at times against us and seemed to find it really hard going. Maybe he finds it hard to motivate himself now he's just a squad player

Watkins looks like a world-beater, every time he gets the ball you expect something special. I'm looking forward to watching him over the next ten years if he stays in league

See you at the GF

(maybe we'll let you win this time IF you let us take the CC: fancy a trip to Wembley this year instead of OT yet again)

gotcha, BJB is years ahead of smith at full back and winger. in fact he has looked so good on the wing i'd be tempted to bring in a top class fullback, if one is available, next season

I think there are a few players in the 17 from last Sunday that have nothing to prove to anybody. But they do regularly and will do so again.

Smith isn't one of them. Regardless of getting involved with semantics with Gotcha it's clear to me Smith is miles behind 1-5 shirt numbers in terms of talent and application at the moment. The next person in line for a shirt if someone is needed for the threequarters should be Chisolm IMO. I've seen what I need from Smith and not just from Sunday.

Albeit i've seen very little of him the finished of Chisholms tries have looked very good and we all know he doesn't lack pace. I would look at putting BJB to fullback and Chisholm on the wing until Webb gets back.

Interesting you say that because i was just checking out the Super League website:
[url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player?hs1=2012&hp1=2805&hs2=2012&hp2=279&stat=tries&season=2012McShane vs Burrow[/url
In 3 games less than Burrow with limited game time McShane has completed just 8 tackles less than Burrow and also missed one fewer tackle.

I've been away a year, I come back and it's the same old folk bickering. Love it.

You used to start most of it!

I disagree that McShane or Clarkson for example had as much to prove as Smith. They are still relative tyros - Smith's played in three Grand Finals and almost 150 games all up, but hasn't had a look in once BJB got back in the side. As someone else said, if there is one position on the field where you can look good despite your team being walloped, its full back.

I have kept hold of the hope that Smith can turn things around, but I do think it may be time to give someone else a shot.

Original argument.

When Saints got shafted by Bradford the other week they looked shocking apart from Wellans who was outstanding.

Yup. He put everything into it. His commitment to the cause cannot be questioned.

When Wellens celebrated his try he scored against Leeds you could see what it meant to him. It was met by me with applause. It was the only thing I could do to distract myself from that curled up, ugly, goblin face.

Give with one hand.......

He's also going bald although he really doesn't like being reminded of it.

That'll be the grass burns from Old Traffords pitch.

We quite clearly said VAST MAJORITY before Keith, as in NOT everyone.

Don't be a dip all your life Keith, take a day off once in a while.

Painful, but very good

STINGER!!!

I aim to please.

Just proves, wasn't me

I posted a comment earlier in this thread regarding the Saints disaster saying that perhaps Moore should be allowed more game time in place of the out of form JP. Although I still believe JP to be not at his best I rather owe him an apology as in the game he was our best tackler overall (30) made the most metres of the forwards (124m) and also most carries of the forwards (1icon_cool.gif. So without his best form and zimmer frame he still was our hardest working forward.



SSTTNPGA

Smith hasn't demonstrated the ability to create anything from nothing since his return from RU - I would BJB has demonstrated the ability to create through clever kicking etc.