Vastly overated, Maybe. Better then Spaven a certainty IMO.

I'm with Big Dave on this one.

Having watched Scott Spaven this season Mark Smith IS imo a better player. Spaven may have more potential but potential has to be realised.

For me Mark Smith has held Widnes back as a team for the past two years, he obviously didn't like it when Webbo was there as he seemed to never actually want to pass to him. Just Think with Chas and Spaven there they could be a decent team at that level with the quality of players they wll have around them as neither have the ego that Smith has.

Widnes is a wierd cookie. They got there tick in the box to apply for a SL Franchise in 2009 and have then sat back. They've not spent money on the 1st team like other clubs around them have done. They've concentrated on off field matters and there youth development. This all builds up to the franchises next year. I believe Widnes will get a franchise and they should be able to hit the ground running with how they've gone about things. I'd be suprised if they haven't got some players names lined up for there SL return already.

Do you know something we don't

LOL. Nahh I'm not the 1st to speculate the above though.

Easty with respect that is a very tired line that crops up every time Widnes are discussed in respect of franchises. We will have spent upto the cap last year but had another poor year whether that be down to horrific injuries, the situation with Cull or any other reasons.

Spaven seems to be a rumour over on our other site. Not convinced about the need for him but I dont know a great deal about him either. The travelling would be an issue for me as we seem to make a balls of having Hull based part timers in the past.

What worries me slightly about this potential deal is if this lad was that promising… why is he leaving KR to drop a league? Why has he only played twice? Why did HKR sign Hodgson from FC who is just a few months older? I realize he’s only young but still some considerations when compare where we are at currently and on limited cap.

FWIW, I really like the make up of the Robbins squad but one issue I have always seen there is at Hooker (6 since Cookes problems but you have now signed Green) I mean Fisher is a good player but not great, Murrell played there for a bit then moved so why wouldn’t this lad play a bit more? I understand challenging the playoffs’ may have affected this of course.

As for Smithy he’s the heart and sole of Widnes in the last 5 years and he apparently didn’t see eye to eye with Webster at first for whatever reason but tbf Webster didn’t do a lot here… Like Gene at Halifax (sometimes these things happen) but Smith could still cut it in SL easy IMO, he’s a solid player gives 110% and is great in defence, to say a two game academy lad is better than him sounds a bit daft, though potential wise obviously the possibility.

We already have Coyle & Netherton signed though also so not sure how would fit in having 3 plus Thacks & I’Anson when what we really need is a kicking game from 7!

Spaven was in the academy in 2006 but imo doesn't have the pace to be a super league 7 or 9 currently.His two games this year have been against Bradford home and away. Hooker is a spot that we need to improve but Hodgson is more of the Fisher style hooker which I suppose suits our style more under Morgan,regarding spaven as a player from what I have seen, he has a half decent kicking game.

Regards Smith, looking from the outside in and having followed national leagues/championship for a while, Smith appears to love the 'big I am status' a bit like Richard Chapman a few years earlier for Fev. Maybe back in 2006 he would have cut it in super league but not what I've seen in the last 2 seasons, my comment about Spaven being better for widnes than Smith is he is cheaper allowing to sign other players as I'm assuming Smith would have been your biggest earner. Secondly Spaven will be hungry to earn a contract for super league where as Smith would not have a got a super league contract for you as he will have been 30 which is possibly why Cullen let him go.

For the record I can't wait for Widnes to get back in super league as you appear to have an outstanding youth setup now and your fans aren't to bad