Smith

[Wiganer Ted]

There are 5 games where Smith's drop goals have won the game or killed off the opposition by making 6 point leads into 7 and similar.

Smith is the only ever present and a lot of games the only first 17 pivot out there. Yes he shouts and waves his arms, the idea that all the players ignore him just isn't true.

We haven't played the same team in successive matches yet and won't this week. From the start of the season we've had any number of injuries and one game we didn't have one forward 8-13 playing.

This has been a terrible season for all sorts of reasons with injuries, suspensions and a totally disrupted team.
To criticise Smith for a " lack of leadership" or not having "any moves" is very harsh as no one knows the instructions Waney has given him.
If Smith hadn't been ever present with his game winning drop goals we'd be a long way south of 3rd.

[The booze hound]

There are 5 games where Smith's drop goals have won the game or killed off the opposition by making 6 point leads into 7 and similar.

Smith is the only ever present and a lot of games the only first 17 pivot out there. Yes he shouts and waves his arms, the idea that all the players ignore him just isn't true.

We haven't played the same team in successive matches yet and won't this week. From the start of the season we've had any number of injuries and one game we didn't have one forward 8-13 playing.

This has been a terrible season for all sorts of reasons with injuries, suspensions and a totally disrupted team.
To criticise Smith for a " lack of leadership" or not having "any moves" is very harsh as no one knows the instructions Waney has given him.
If Smith hadn't been ever present with his game winning drop goals we'd be a long way south of 3rd.

Flip that thought. With a classy scrum half them drop goals wouldn't have been needed for them games would have already been won. Winning pack. Field position. Need a drop goal?

[butt monkey]

To criticise Smith for a " lack of leadership" or not having "any moves" is very harsh as no one knows the instructions Waney has given him.

Are you saying Wane has told him to play as poorly as he has done?

To criticize him IS fair when he has been (and statistics back this up) so terrible this season. We have won games DESPITE his non-performances. The drop goals have proved decisive as you say BUT would they have been so critical had we had a better scrum half?

I am really clutching at straws to remember a regular starting half back so consistently poor for Wigan and who's selection appears almost guaranteed no matter what or how poor things are

To blame injuries is ridiculous. I state and keep having to remind you (among others) that injuries are part and parcel of a contact sport like rugby. Teams should still be picked on form and fitness and not because player "a" is not available.

To give this notion means any player can "go though the motions" and be selected regardless and if you start on that slide then Wigan will not be far where Leeds are at the moment next season.

Too many last minute wins have masked how poor we really have been and if we had lost those rather than win then we would been out of the top eight this season