He's in a rich vein of form over these last 6 games for sure.



When Webb gets back he'll be our 2nd best winger, unless he takes the rumoured cash on offer elsewhere.

I dont want to get into arguments again about Smith, and wont be sucked in.



But how can anyone sane possibly say he will be our second best winger? He is head and sholulders above any of the backs we have out there at present, and not just for these last 6 games.



And that is not a critisism of any of the backs.

Fielden built a career around it, he'll be OK.

That will depend largely which wing he is given.



Donald is completely wasted on the right, IMO.

Where does Hall fit in. I think long term he will be moved in field. He is a big unit with decent pace and a good scoring record. I wouldn't say he has the wow factor however.



Once Smith is in the reckoning for a non-fullback spot, I'd move Donald to left wing with senior again.

i agree

Isn't the plan for Smith to play at Centre?

It was and at this point probably still is. Leeds need to form some sort of threat on the right and that doesn't come from Ablett and it's asking a lot of Watkins to perform at this level week in, week out.

Firstly, if we're going to discuss this you need to add more clarity as you've contradicted yourself right there.



I was specific. I said these last 6 games which dates back to last season. What did you mean by "at present"?



Generally speaking, he is a vastly inferior wing man to Scott Donald. Overall he is a vastly inferior full back to Webb.



He is a vastly inferior centre to Senior and is actually a lot less experienced and achieved a lot less in the centres than Watkins and Gibson, though the jury is still out. Smith as a centre remains a hypothetical.



So, despite his rich vein of form these last six games when all the pieces are back he will remain our 2nd best wing man.



Would I like to see us retain him? Yes, he's shown his versatility and shown he can play at a very high level and he's the right age. Should we break the bank to retain him? No, not when there are better players than him in all the positions across the back line?



Now, that was a rational, well thought and constructed post. Feel free to rebut with a difference of opinion.



But don't question my sanity. I am not the one who invents conversations with Phil Daly.

I agree and Mclennan needs to ditch this ploy because our defensive frailties aren't solved by the wingman. They're further in field. If we can't fix that might as well reap the rewards of Donald and Senior on the left flank.

Most of Manlys breaks were made in the middle of the field last night, and those that were made down our right side were due to having a man over out wide from fantastic running further infield.

I for one am glad Leeds won't be playing Manly every week. The skill level was way above ours.







Smith is now a fully fledged international which should automatically move him up the pecking order in Leeds' much vaunted pay structure, if they wish to retain him. Despite that it seems almost certain that there will be more money on offer elsewhere. I for one have always been in Smith's corner and would be disappointed if he moves on but that's between him and the club and what will be, will be.