Smith is certainly the fall guy for the state we are in.
Our half backs were on a hiding to nothing last Saturday as our backs, especially centres, were not an attacking threat. Bateman for as excellent as he is does not present an attacking threat as a centre. Gildart is 19 and was in his 6th game for the club. What were they thinking about?
To give our half backs any chance we should have played our one attacking centre in Gelling. Even after his errors he should have been persevered with as him, Joel and Dom are a real threat that any opposition defence would worry themselves stupid about. The club decided against this.
How bloody ironic that at last Monday's dinner the try of the season was Manfredi's v Wire at the DW.
That was where Gelling broke open the Wire defence, offloaded to Joel who went past men at pace and with an inside offload to put Manfredi in for the try.
Try of the season, chosen by the coaching staff, made by Gelling the player who they then decided wouldn't play in the GF.
Smith had a poor game as did Lockers as did Williams compared to what they are capable of. Perhaps Leeds could make sure they were marked out of the game as our attacking threat had been removed by the club.Joel made massive meters and with Gelling alongside they could have ripped that left defence of Leeds apart. Just conjecture as it's all over.
Just that Smith can be better, should be better but how he can improve under the present structure and playing systems I don't know.
BTW when did he sign the 4 year deal?