: Tue May 12, 2009 10:47 am
tvoc wrote:
He's always looked more comfortable at full back to me than on the wing. Centre doesn't really come into it at this point based on his four appearances there against the twenty two at full back and fifty three on the wing. The full back position allowed him greater opportunity to be involved in the play where his work rate can be best utilised.
Always? Even in 2006 when he was displaced by Tansey? That you would say that doesn't speak volumes for his wing play but I agree, recently, full back has looked his best position.
Unproven? Brent Webb is in his third season so injury aside Smith isn't going to be first choice full back at this point at the club. In the meantime (during Webb's tenure) Smith has played thirty nine times on the right wing - Hall twenty two and Gibson five - and gained International recognition under Tony Smith in that position.
Yes, unproven. As you have shown, during Webb's tenure, he has failed to cement the wing spot as his own, unlike Hall this year who has made himself pretty much un-droppable on the wing.
Victim of circumstance. Prior to Webb's injury at the end of last season he had played the previous seven on the right wing and would presumably have got the GF gig there also but for Webb's back injury in training. Hall has grabbed his opportunity with both hands though and come on in leaps and bounds this season leaving Smith needing to carve out the right centre spot as you say.
You seem to be in agreement with me here. As you say, had Webb not got injured Smith might've had a chance to cement that right wing spot. Now, because of circumstances not of Smith's making, he needs to cement the right centre spot, as Hall has sewn up the wing.
I don't see Gibson at Headingley after his current contract expires this season and Watkins (as I've consistently stated on here) is eighteen months away from being ready (for me) for the week in week out grind of SL, leaving McClennan to use him sparingly this season. Unfortunately as SL evens out the easier Watkins type games haven't worked out that way. What we have at Headingley is seven names to fill the five positions but I'd stop short of calling that true competition.
How is it not. Yes, nobody has yet won the competition for the right centre but the competition is there. Hopefully, Smith will nail it but if not I am sure Watkins and Gibson will be itching for another chance. How is that not competition?
Because the right side defence was an acknowledged weakness, both within the game and within the club (hence the reasoning behind the Donald switch to his opposite wing of choice for this season.) The obvious solution to the problem (while Watkins becomes ready to replace Senior on the left - that's a plan that works for me) was to source a ready made right centre for this season using some of the spare cap money available to the club. Then Smith (and Hall) could have provided some serious competition and back up to the three-quarter line. Building on recent successes (rather than resting on their laurels with cap money sat in the bank gathering dust) would have been my way to go had I been the CEO.
The right side defence was not necessarily acknowledged as a weakness. They wanted to strengthen it. It wasn't a strength.
Sourcing a ready made right centre is an obvious and easy solution. They did make efforts to land one (Soliola). That didn't come off. They may have other irons in the fire so felt singing whatever and whoever was available would not be necessary or even an upgrade on what we have.
There's a dearth of quality centres out there. That why our main rivals for trophies have thrown an ageing 2nd rower and then an inexperienced stand off in there this year.
Of course, if you were CEO these wonderful right cenrtes would've become readily available right now I assume.
