Exactly Smith (Tony) keeps going on about the future then picks a player who has given RL the fingers.
Madness.

Agree 100%.

Smith now earns his corn playing union and thats fine... but I expect him to be dropped from the League team. What message does this give to players RL players if not!

In Australia you play abroad and you're not considered - never mind leave the sport!

Disagree with the tone of those comments. The lad has made a professional decision and i've seen no evidence of a lack of respect to RL. When the flow of players was in the other direction the Union lot were bitter and childish but having won the argument about professionalism we should know better. Also thought the Aussie/Ricky Stuart pre-world cup sulk was rather pathetic. Professionals follow the money. That said, apart from not being able to cover FB, T. Briscoe would have been a better choice for purely rugby reasons, IMO.

He made a FINANCIAL decision (not professional as you have claimed) to leave RL for RU purely for more money that in itself is a lack of respect.
Put it this way would you expect a company that has put time and effort in training up 1 of it juniors to then see them walk away purely for more money then invite him to their chrimbo party?
Also Smith (Tony) has repeatedly stated that he is going to give youth a go to help in the future.
Do you agree that flys in the face of him now including union boy?

The tone of the points above were around what benefit it brings to the set up of english rugby league to pick someone who clears off and is inelligible from the following week.

Don't see the distinction between financial and professional. Professional players play for money. As fans we love the game, but we don't rely on it to pay the bills.



If the worker has been head-hunted because he is brilliant and you have a really important project to complete while he is working his notice, I'd use him. The weakness with that is that IMO, Lee Smith is decent and versatile, but not brilliant.



I see your point there. However in fairness to Tony Smith, he is giving a few youngsters a shot.

He might help us win the 4 nations and give the English game a shot in the arm. I don't think he will as it happens, but Tony Smith chooses the squad. If he was retiring from the sport to become an insurance salesman or a publican would you be so against his inclusion? I'm sure plenty of players have announced they intended to retire before tournaments start - you have to try to win today as well as build for tomorrow.

It'd be mad if Leeds had dropped Smith for the GF, or Saints had dropped Long for that matter.

I can see your argument in that you should pick the best players available at this moment in time ie not because of age or building for future World Cups etc. Its why I think Keith Senior should be left centre because he is currently the best left centre who qualifies for England. I am more surprised that Waps are happy to let him play and delay going to them for another month.

Yeah I was surprised too. Maybe Edwards doing his bit for inter-code relations. Senior has looked as good as ever, this year, so I'd agree with you there as well. Lee Smith, who ironically I've always talked down, can play anywhere in the backs to a moderate standard and that is useful in a 24 man squad.