Cam Smith should really be in the 17 and I can see him spitting the dummy soon,and i couldn't blame him

Something none of us knows, the reason(s) for him being dropped. The sheer number of tackles he made might be down to a failure to play where and how Furner wanted him to. We just don't know.

Cameron Smith is 20, if he's spat his dummy at not being a first team regular at that age I'd say his attitude is not great IMO

He's right to be frustrated when OAPs are getting games ahead of him.

Age is completely irrelevant. ANY player should be dissapointed if a player of less ability is taking a place they should have. At least I would hope EVERY player feels that way, otherwise their desire is questionable.

Disappointed yes, driven to get a place in the side, yes, spitting your dummy out when your only just out of the Academy, no. Anyway its all just forum supposition isn't it.

Cameron Smith is a very good player and IMO will be part of the Leeds side for years to come. If he wasn't part if their plans he would have been one of the 'free to go' players.

I still think the only reason Smith isn’t in the side is down to his defence. We’re shipping way too many tries as it is and for that reason he’s not getting selected.

It’s nothing to do with age or his ability going forward. Oledzski and Walker are first team regulars at similar age. Both can defend.

If you think he has a problem with defence, then I respectfully suggest you have rarely seen him play. There are far worse defenders in that side playing regularly.

I stand corrected. He did miss a few tackles but no more than Sutcliffe or Merrin. Smith's defence was highlighted by more than one Sky pundit for that game (including Barrie Mac) - presumably some of the misses led to soft tries? That's all I can think of.

I have high hopes for Cameron Smith, but I get the impression that he's going to have to come in to the first team and make a big impact to keep his place (unlike someone like Sutcliffe, who really must be ripping it up in training). What a shame that obstruction try wasn't given.

If London win will Furner be gone then?

No

Don’t be ridiculous

If this is the case it would make it a must win game for Furner

That doesn’t show that Smith doesn’t have a problem with defence, it simply highlights we have a number of poor defenders in the squad and starting team.

I really like Smith and think he is a good player and could become a great player. However, if he is a ball playing 13 and you compare him to SOL then he needs to improve his defence and show a bit more with the ball IMO. If you are saying smith is a better second row than Sutcliffe and should be playing over him I wouldn’t disagree but there just be a reason he isn’t. Not sure he does anything we clearly need at second row, he won’t get through the line regularly and doesn’t have any whack in defence.

Mate we’ve been here before. I’ve seen Cam Smith play a fair bit, from his Academy days through. He’s pretty good head on but has been poor laterally at times.

I agree he should be in the 17, and think he has more to offer than Sutcliffe, but when Furner gave him a shot he missed about 6 tackles? I get that this was at SO.

If you think Furner has some other ulterior motive for not picking an obviously talented player then fair enough. Why else do you think it is? We have 2 other players about the same age as regular first teamers, both of whom are pretty solid defensively as it happens.

We do have other issues with defence with other players too, I’d agree. I hope Smith does get a run in the side and develops his defence because there is a cracking player in prospect there.

Ok to correct myself, missed 2 and made 10 v Salford, made 46+ and missed 4 v Wakey; given age and being out of main position, not terrible by stats.

Furner has stated the team is lacking experience and so we’ll see JJB / Ablett for a while to shore things up I imagine.

I actually think we’ll win this one.

If we are bringing youth through then Cam Smith has to be in the 17.He is a footballer,yes he will miss tackles,everybody does.I find it utterly ridiculous we pontificate about our youth system and don't play them

Exactly. Which is my very point. I am not saying he is the answer, he may or may not. What I am saying is that it is completely wrong to say his defence is not good, based on missing some tackles in one match, where he was played out of position, and actually was the teams top tackler in the match. He has missed less tackles in two games than our current half backs miss each match played. In the first two matches of the season Sutcliffe in the back row missed seven tackles in each match, again more each match than Smiths two games together. That is what people should be comparing to, and I state again, that if defence is what is deemed the issue then somebody has a scew loose, becauase it is not consistent thinking.

My own view is that once again we are dealing with favouritism and more worryingly, contract stipulations. I can't see any other way why we persist in some selections other than that reasoning.

I think its right to question selection especally like Gotcha says much worse performers continue to get picked.
Not only that the recall of OAPS Jjb & Ablett hold no long term improvement whatsoever & in the latters case he was finished 2yrs ago.
Jjb may offer 20 minutes/half hour of decent graft & enthusiasm against a couple of lesser teams but will soon be found wanting agaisnt the better teams.
Its time we took the hit now & bloodied more youngsters on a regular basis imo the old guard offer veey little & then the likes of Sutcliffe & Ferres offer nothing whatsoever

Smith does get overlooked when it would be good to see him given a decent run in the side, but this is not just down to Furner.
McDermott was criticised on here for not giving him a chance. Sinfield took over and hardly picked him either. All 3 must see flaws to his game or think he is not yet ready

Smith and Golding in the 19 man squad for Featherstone this weekend.

Hearing Walker isn’t playing tonight which doesn’t go down well for Golding. With them included in Featherstone I wonder whether McLelland coming in or Sutcliffe is going to Fullback or Stand off.

Was going to say leeds by 12 before the above post but now i haven't got a clue!

I know I`m a fan of Golding so this will be a biased view.
But if they are thinking of playing Sutcliffe at SO or FB ahead of Golding and or Smith then it is a disgrace.
Plodders who should be nowhere near this squad get picked week on week and yet Golding and Smith who in my eyes have done little wrong get shafted.
Is Sinfield picking this team or Furner

Tui to FB and CM in would be my favoured option if Walker is out. More likely to see Ablett in and Sutcliffe to 6 though I reckon.

McDermott would probably pick Smith but decide to leave him on the bench for 80 minutes



I think we should show a bit of patience with Furner's selections, even if it isn't obvious what Sutcliffe brings and why others are being left out. Smith will probably get his chance at some point. It looks like Golding's being shown the door.