Reason to be cheerful - Matty Smith

[cpwigan]

Wigan have had some fantastic half back pairings over the decades. In the modern era I really liked the Ford/Kenny pairing.

Powell IMO still has a great future at Wigan

[Wes]

Westand Rich a question for you if I may.

When we singned TL was he as good as he is now and how old is he?!?

Tommy has been at the side of some fantastic half backs yet only Finchy has made him look good. Barrett was at Wigan and it was as though we only had 1 HB, Tommy has looked a class act in the last 2yr only, how old was/is he in that range? He has improved significantly within the last 2yrs.

[weststand-rich]

Hi 29W,

I'd argue that Tommy has essentially always been that good a player (certainly from 2007/8 onwards), just used in the wrong way. You don't get World Cup medals for no reason and then come back to your club and not exert a huge influence unless the coach has you doing a job you're not quite suited for.

Under Nobby he was massively underutilised and I'd only say he came to the fore when he started taking on the line in the last three years and scooting massively from dummy half. It wasn't a new skill set, just team strategy.

On paper our best half back pairings in recent history should have been Tommy and Trent B. But they were both woefully underused by Nobby.

[Wes]

So on the same mindset if that's how you want to look at it could Smith have been utilised incorrectly? Come to think of it could we say the same of green in the NRL being played out of position and in fact at KR was constantly improving.

So could it be we have bought 2 uncovered gems/diamonds in the rough similar to when we bought TL?

[weststand-rich]

You sneaky debater - I could see where your train of thought was heading.

You could well be right and I would expect to see some improvement - I do actually rate Smith and think he's a good player with potential that was probably curtailed by being shunted around from bottom end clubs when Saints backed Eastmond. But an improved Smith still isn't going to be the same calibre as TL.

Lets put a measurement on it. If Smith has improved sufficiently in the next 12 months to be a consolidated player in Englands starting 6/7/9, then he is by definition a world class player. We're into semantics then.

[Wes]

It's more of an honest assessment rather than sneaky, people are too quick to put players/coaches down, not putting you in that bracket btw.

Smith is technically excellent at 7 we just need to boost his confidence and give him a run, everyone said holdsworth pulled the strings at Salford yet while smith was there they where having a very good season yet when he left their season went down the pan. Green is a very good runner of the ball and will compliment smiths style of play so I think where in for an exciting season ahead.

Also if 1 becomes injured we have Powell to fit in who is a very good half.

TL is a very good rugby league player and every team would have him in there 17 but he is not the best HB in the world by a long shot, he has played alongside some quality HB's only Finch has made him tick which says more about Brett than it does TL. I know he's achieved a great deal with NZ but he's a part of the system not the main player or game breaker, they happen to have an excellent squad.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

Powell IMO still has a great future at Wigan

I agree and I wasn't ruling Sam out of the equation. Healthy competition will be key.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

It's more of an honest assessment rather than sneaky, people are too quick to put players/coaches down, not putting you in that bracket btw.

Smith is technically excellent at 7 we just need to boost his confidence and give him a run, everyone said holdsworth pulled the strings at Salford yet while smith was there they where having a very good season yet when he left their season went down the pan. Green is a very good runner of the ball and will compliment smiths style of play so I think where in for an exciting season ahead.

Also if 1 becomes injured we have Powell to fit in who is a very good half.

TL is a very good rugby league player and every team would have him in there 17 but he is not the best HB in the world by a long shot, he has played alongside some quality HB's only Finch has made him tick which says more about Brett than it does TL. I know he's achieved a great deal with NZ but he's a part of the system not the main player or game breaker, they happen to have an excellent squad.

Spot on. Perhaps Waney and the coaching staff at Wigan need to be congratualated. We should not be trying to compare Tommy and Smithy, as halfbacks, as they have totally different attributes. We need to consider how the team function as a whole and it is now up to the coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments regarding team play/strategy.

As for contributing to the sides success then we will have to go along way to beat Tommy's importance.

[markill]

Well said Wes and SEFC.

We shouldn't really compare it to our past either, we should compare it to our current competition.

Who is a better 7 in the competition than Matty Smith going into next year?
Dureaux? Maybe
Brough? not so sure
Lomax? potentially
Myler? nah

I think we have as good as anyone esle has going into next year with time to develop a system and structure with him in