Matty smith

[nathan_rugby]

He is saying we are unaware if it is the halves lack of ability or the coaches strict tactics which defer our play.

What we do rarely see is Smith or Powell taking the line on. We rarely see 7 and 6 linking together using dummy runs and shipping it outwide.

We also rarely see our hooker step out, attract markers and A defender and then pass to the first receiver.

It's all simple rugby league to attract players to the middle and create space, but we seem so poor at doing it.

[thegimble]

I seem to remember that Greeny got similar treatment until he announced he was leaving, then all of a sudden he was bloody marvellous. Smithy is good enough for Waney and good enough for England so he can't be all that bad. Give the guy a break!

You are correct on this issue. If rolls were reversed it would be Green getting battered.

[Fujiman]

Smith is a good player for playing to a structure. He can organise the line quite well and can deliver a pass accurately enough. His distance kicking is exceptional and that's always been his biggest strength. When you play to a set structure he can be quite useful. Given how many teams favour a very structured attack it's no surprise that he's developed into one of the more highly rated English halves.

The problem Smith has, and indeed a lot of English halves do, is he's not necessarily a creative player. Aussie halves seem to have an ability to read the game and pick out clever passes that far surpasses most, if not all, halves from the northern hemisphere. Just look at Blake Green. He was playing in the pack or as an occasional interchange hooker before coming to Super League with Hull KR and playing out of his skin. His passing ability was far better than Smith's. Even less highly rated halves discarded by NRL clubs can come to Super League and display a level of passing and creativity lacking from our homegrown players.

There will no doubt be may who disregard this article based purely on who wrote it, but the last few paragraphs about skilful players vs generic athletes are spot on in my opinion. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_209 ... mould.html

For me Smith is an excellent player for a structured attack but his ability to read the game and pass creatively is limited. I don't think there's much in the way of being able to think outside the box. It's not just Smith though, it's a problem with so many players. Shut the structure down with smart defence and Smith seems to offer very little. Williams, on the other hand, is one of the most naturally gifted players I've seen in a long time and he has an ability to create something from nothing. It's harder to keep him out of the game. Even so, he also doesn't have that creativity in terms of passing just yet.

Basically Smith is a bit beige. He'll help us win plenty of games with his metronomic gameplay and coaches these days seem to love that reliability and dependability. From a fan standpoint I think halves like Smith are a bore to watch and are sad reflection on a sport that used to produce some truly great halfbacks with guile and smarts that were a pleasure to watch.

I'd love this country to produce truly skilful halves but apparently it's out of fashion. Rugby robots it is from now on. He's apparently the best scrum half that England have right now.

A good read that CP. Must say that I like to read your well balanced and informative posts. Keep up the good work

[josie andrews]

Smith is a good player for playing to a structure. He can organise the line quite well and can deliver a pass accurately enough. His distance kicking is exceptional and that's always been his biggest strength. When you play to a set structure he can be quite useful. Given how many teams favour a very structured attack it's no surprise that he's developed into one of the more highly rated English halves.

The problem Smith has, and indeed a lot of English halves do, is he's not necessarily a creative player. Aussie halves seem to have an ability to read the game and pick out clever passes that far surpasses most, if not all, halves from the northern hemisphere. Just look at Blake Green. He was playing in the pack or as an occasional interchange hooker before coming to Super League with Hull KR and playing out of his skin. His passing ability was far better than Smith's. Even less highly rated halves discarded by NRL clubs can come to Super League and display a level of passing and creativity lacking from our homegrown players.

There will no doubt be may who disregard this article based purely on who wrote it, but the last few paragraphs about skilful players vs generic athletes are spot on in my opinion. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_209 ... mould.html

For me Smith is an excellent player for a structured attack but his ability to read the game and pass creatively is limited. I don't think there's much in the way of being able to think outside the box. It's not just Smith though, it's a problem with so many players. Shut the structure down with smart defence and Smith seems to offer very little. Williams, on the other hand, is one of the most naturally gifted players I've seen in a long time and he has an ability to create something from nothing. It's harder to keep him out of the game. Even so, he also doesn't have that creativity in terms of passing just yet.

Basically Smith is a bit beige. He'll help us win plenty of games with his metronomic gameplay and coaches these days seem to love that reliability and dependability. From a fan standpoint I think halves like Smith are a bore to watch and are sad reflection on a sport that used to produce some truly great halfbacks with guile and smarts that were a pleasure to watch.

I'd love this country to produce truly skilful halves but apparently it's out of fashion. Rugby robots it is from now on. He's apparently the best scrum half that England have right now.

A good read that CP. Must say that I like to read your well balanced and informative posts. Keep up the good work

+ 1

[Panchitta Marra]

I seem to remember that Greeny got similar treatment until he announced he was leaving, then all of a sudden he was bloody marvellous. Smithy is good enough for Waney and good enough for England so he can't be all that bad. Give the guy a break!

Are our halves performing George, I'm not as convinced as you feel, and all I'm asking, is it down to the halves making the decisions on how they run and distribute the ball, or is it more by ideas impressed on them by Wane and the coaching staff.
Another season like last season, attacking wise and we could well have an empty trophy cabinet again at the end of this season.

What would you do to remedy this PM?

With what we've got available I don't know Meds.
Are our half backs performing well enough in your opinion?

[medlocke]

Are our halves performing George, I'm not as convinced as you feel, and all I'm asking, is it down to the halves making the decisions on how they run and distribute the ball, or is it more by ideas impressed on them by Wane and the coaching staff.
Another season like last season, attacking wise and we could well have an empty trophy cabinet again at the end of this season.

What would you do to remedy this PM?

With what we've got available I don't know Meds.
Are our half backs performing well enough in your opinion?

No, Powell is awful, hopefully things will get better when George gets back, if not then maybe give Sam T a run out in the halfs

[ian.birchall]

[quote="thegimble"
You are correct on this issue. If rolls were reversed it would be Green getting battered.[/quote]

Or even buttered.

[thegimble]

[quote="thegimble"
You are correct on this issue. If rolls were reversed it would be Green getting battered.

Or even buttered. [/quote]

that's good fair play had me thinking for a sec. :eusa2: