Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:58 pm  

To everyone's surprise, including my own, he was deservedly given Man of the Match in the deciding game against NZ today.

He was more effective than George Williams was in his games and has even outshone Widdop who has had a poor series in my opinion.

Can we now assume Smith is the best English halfback in Super League?

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:47 pm  

Not really. I thought Widdop did really well today, he brings a lot to the side. I don't think it's any surprise to see us win a series when he's finally given a starting shirt.

Smith did well today, really well. But it was a horses for courses kind of thing rather than him being brilliant. He brought structure and solidity to a side playing with more freedom than the previous games. I've no doubt Williams would have done better today as well, but support Smith's inclusion because of his kicking game. Hodgson also deserves a lot of praise, he's finally brought a quality second 9 to the England setup, which we've simply not had since KC retired. Roby's minutes on the field were full of impact throughout the series, which really helped get the side going. The number of players in the NRL is benefiting England now. The defense is pretty solid and there is a lot of quality in the pack.

Having said that, as good as Smith and Widdop were today, there was still no ball for the centres. We've arguably got one of the most dangerous strike weapons in RL (Until he joins Union) in Watkins and he's had to survive off scraps all series. He's not even had a chance to make a break, no early ball, no overlaps to exploit at all.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:09 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Not really. I thought Widdop did really well today, he brings a lot to the side. I don't think it's any surprise to see us win a series when he's finally given a starting shirt.

Smith did well today, really well. But it was a horses for courses kind of thing rather than him being brilliant. He brought structure and solidity to a side playing with more freedom than the previous games. I've no doubt Williams would have done better today as well, but support Smith's inclusion because of his kicking game. Hodgson also deserves a lot of praise, he's finally brought a quality second 9 to the England setup, which we've simply not had since KC retired. Roby's minutes on the field were full of impact throughout the series, which really helped get the side going. The number of players in the NRL is benefiting England now. The defense is pretty solid and there is a lot of quality in the pack.

Having said that, as good as Smith and Widdop were today, there was still no ball for the centres. We've arguably got one of the most dangerous strike weapons in RL (Until he joins Union) in Watkins and he's had to survive off scraps all series. He's not even had a chance to make a break, no early ball, no overlaps to exploit at all.

Watkins got the ball five times and knocked on four times. Had a mare today.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:34 am  

Based on his performances in SL, no. He was solid, and provided some much needed control, and shape, but lets not go overboard here, he was the best English half in the series, but mainly because the other 2 were pretty rubbish.

Organizing, and a half decent kicking game should be every halfbacks bread, and butter. Unfortunately, England don't seem to be able to produce many halves with those key attributes, hence the reason why Smith's performance today has been praised so highly. It can't just be because they don't play in the NRL either, because Widdop seems to lack all the qualities you would associate with a world class halfback. He is a tremendous defender to be fair to him.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sun Nov 15, 2015 2:47 pm  

Has anyone ever seen Widdop play well ? Looks very average to me and makes more meters running sideways than forward. He doesn't seem to me able to control a game at all.

Looks a very very average player

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sun Nov 15, 2015 3:42 pm  

Because he doesn't have the electrifying pace of a Eastmond or an eye for a gap like Burrow's in his pomp, Matty Smith doesn't and has never got the credit he deserves.

He brings balance, structure and an intelligent kicking game. Had we not carted him off, them oh so nearly defeats in play off semis etc when we instead chose to run with the Eastmond's, Lomax's and Gaskell's, we might have won something in those famine years.

The Michael Carrick of Rugby League in my opinion.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:06 pm  

Cool. He cost us the games against Australia after he was unable to turn a massive size and power advantage in the forwards into territory.

Level par. Maybe one under.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Mon Nov 16, 2015 5:24 am  

Widdop is more of a worry than Smith. I've watched him closely in the NRL and went from being convinced England had a world class stand off to being worried we had one who looked the part but was in fact beyond ordinary. He needs to straighten his game up a lot and run more directly at the line than he does. As it is he tends to run the outside backs out of space or pass so far in front of the defence that they have plenty of time to shuffle along following the ball.

Widdop needs to improve his game a lot next season. I'm not sure he will.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:33 am  

I like Matty Smith, but I think its a case of him being more "steady at every level" than anything else.

It a bit like painting with numbers with Smith, he'll do the things he can every week, to the best of his ability, he'll run the moves, his boot's big and he's no speed bump in defence, but he's nothing to fall back on if plan A isn't working, he wont adjust his game plan, he won't look out for gaps, he won't probe the defence.

On Saturday that was enough. When you play for a top club like Wigan, it will will be enough most weeks, but I'd take a Danny Maguire any day of the week over him.

As someone who doesn't watch NRL, I must say I one of those waiting for the great white hope of Gareth Widdop to materialise. I'm not saying he had a bad game, but my expectation are a lot higher.

Re: Matty Smith - Best English halfback in Super League : Mon Nov 16, 2015 11:05 am  

St pete wrote:

Has anyone ever seen Widdop play well ? Looks very average to me and makes more meters running sideways than forward. He doesn't seem to me able to control a game at all.

Looks a very very average player

I must say, I thought Widdop was very poor for most of the series. He really kills the possibility of creating overlaps by running towards the touchline with the ball instead of squaring up and fixing defenders. Williams was also guilty of this, although to a lesser extent. I was in favour of McNamara's decision to bring Smith in because, while he can't do a lot of the flashy things those other players can do, he plays square and is very effective at the organisational work a playmaker should be able to do. I don't think it's any coincidence that Watkins finally got some good ball in the last test - shame he had a bit of a mare with his hands.

He's not the most popular figure, McNamara, and he doesn't help himself in that respect with the weird public persona that he adopts, but I think it's only fair to recognise that England have improved under his management. Since he's been in charge we've lost some close ones, but I can't remember us ever being out of a game. I think finding a dependable half back partnership will be the thing that decides his legacy (assuming he stays on).