Shhhh!

Thought this thread was about Tim Smiths defence.

Mixed on the west side yesterday, we only have enforced segregation when the big clubs come to town

Yawn...

Tim Smith is far from our worst defender - yet another Wigan myth created against an ex player, very sad.

Though no world beater I've seen nothing to suggest his tackling isn't anything other than adequate and that will do me because we pay him to be really good at other things

Loath as I am to give in to the Gooner - Tim Smith IS our worst defender - bar Woody. We know he's not there as a tackling machine, but it is becoming a problem and is far from adequate - which may be related to his ankle injury, but is still a problem!

Hypothetically speaking, it's no good saying "look how brilliant he was creating two tries" if he gets trampled over to let two in

No TRB he isn't IMO. It's just your opinion same as it's just mine and they are both as worthy.

Peter Fox, Richard Mathers wish they could tackle like Smith

I wouldn't worry too much about Timmeh,Hes Salford bound.but dont worry your getting a player in exchange.
Allegedly.

I have never denied your opinion - but don't alway agree - as is the case here. The phrase 'Powder-puff' springs to mind!

If you're relying on your mercurial SH to be a tackling machine, there's trouble at t'mill.

think there;s a level bettween tackling like a girl and being a machine

Indeed, and that's about where Tim Smith is at.

Maybe, but he's not the worst for me but I don't want to name names because it not that simple IMHO. For me it's the forwards and backs collectively who are not finishing the tackle or simply falling off or not even being where they should be. Also far to many players are out of position far to often, Lyne and Cockayne big offenders.

This is what I think I meant by a lazy team, though I can't quite put my finger on it tbh. What I do believe is Smith tackling is no worse than last year but due to a healthy team ethic it wasn't an issue.

Modern day defense is rarely about a one on one tackle.
It is the team defense that matters.

If someone runs at Smith (or anyone else) the tacklers either side are just as important.
He is average at tackling but as said, that is not what we bought. We should be fine as he is.

That's probably about right. We maybe need to restrict the number of times Tim is exposed to the tackle - knowing as we do his ability in this area.

At the moment it seems to be getting exploited a little too much.

Bren - you're twisting my words!

Im not sure Tims defence is any worse than Paul Sykes or a couple of others tbf.
As a team we clearly have a defensive problem. We dont appear to be strong enough in the tackle across the park. Its very rare we send anyone backwards or really punish someone.

On a seperate note what has happened to Amor? Although i thought he was a bit better yesterday, he still looks like a different player to the one we have had over the previous 2 seasons? Injured? Still coming back from op? Havent seen the extra leg drive on impact we used to see and he seems to be getting dominated a little easier.

I thought it was about Farrels jaw.

misread it El Rey...

"crap" not "glass"

id say 'generally' our defence down the middle has been fine but for the past 2 years the edge defence really has been an issue. When the ball goes wide quickly we often get caught out. whether this is due to the 2 wingers being hard wired at shooting in etc at Hull KR or not I dont know, but they often commit the same errors..

How so?

I though Amor was excellent yesterday and if anything, lacked the support of the other forwards with the notable exception of Aiton, who was outstanding.

Do you really wish me to answer that?

On the basis that you do: by suggesting I was wanting TS to be a tackling machine - which I don't, but at the moment he isn't connecting and the opposition are targetting his channel. As stated above, it is probably as much down to his team-mates to up their game and protect him as it is for him to step up his own.

He clearly isn't fully fit and worringly isn't talking to the players as much as he was last year either!

I don't know how you see all that from the North Stand Phil - I can't see any detail about who's talking to who during play, apart perhaps from Mathers shouting the odds when we're defending our try line.

I think the issue is less specifically with Tim Smith and more with the people around him; Aiton aside, we don't have anything like the required desire and brutality to make defensive wins - we don't hit hard enough, we don't drive backwards often enough and we certainly don't do the deliberately messy gang-tackling that some teams now use, which takes an age to disentangle and is, for all intents and purposes, just the newest way to push the envelope in terms of clearing the ruck.

I'm ok with Tim Smith - I'm not ok with some of his mates.

True, he will never make a boxer, but he is turning into the best forward in the competition this year, so I am comfortable with that.

From the highlights Smith was very very poor in relation to his defence, especially line defence, 2 very poor misses that directly resulted in tries.

His defence when he was up for it at Wigan was ok, particularly after a poor performance the week before, hopefully he can make up for it next week. I don't think it's ability that is his issue in relation to this more application and desire.