Wigan Warriors - wiganrugbyfans.com • Re: Who is the Lockers replacement already at the club?

Incredibly tough to judge just what Smithies can and can’t do just yet in a first team jersey. The lad was an 18 year old kid when he was asked to train with the first team. He hadn’t had a pre season with the first team and he was thrown in the deep end playing in the middle of the field against men. I thought he was pretty incredible in both attack and defence in all honesty. I’m sure as he develops he’ll show more facets to his game and open up with the ball a little more. He’ll never be an O’Loughlin style ball player but O’Loughlin at 18 wouldn’t have been the O’Loughlin that was one of the world best players a few seasons back.

I wouldn’t worry about his average metres per carry either. That will improve as he develops anyway but he’s got an attitude and an engine money can’t buy. One of superleagues best ever players in Jamie Peacock had that attitude and engine and his metres per carry was pretty low also. His strength was that he was available for tough carries in both the first minute and the last. This kid isn’t a prop but he has that sort of attitude about him. I’d personally protect him and play him wider to start this season but long term the kid will make a fine loose forward IMO.