Reacher

He was the last one home so he sort of deselected himself from the first test.

In fairness to Stu, I think Smithies would’ve been on the plane with Smith, King and Farrell (who were also in Dublin) if needs be but presumably he knew he hadn’t been called up and therefore stayed on.

On a side note, I wish we had a couple less top class loose forwards and a couple more top class hookers. I can’t blame Wane for picking Radley and Knowles, as both are class acts but so are Smithies, Minchella and Cam Smith. He’s picking at most 2 from 5, yet at hooker and to a lesser extent Fullback, we’re scratching around for options (I say fullback because we have Welsby and then….errr….nobody really. Maybe Brierley at a push).

Come on Stu it’s the No.1 website for everything Saints, what am I going to conclude when I read that crap? I don’t know what you call yourself on that site so I couldn’t comment.

I don’t expect you to be an agreeing with everything posted on here, I certainly don’t. Other posters probably view my posts in the same way. Nevertheless, since we won the LLS and GF you have undoubtedly turned bitter. Fine, I don’t expect you to like the fact, I would think the same about Saints. But what I would like to see is some reasoned rebuttal of posts on this site rather than just making spurious claims. Your claim earlier that I didn’t drill down far enough to make my comparisons between Smithies and Knowles was just trying to avoid reasoned debate. Now, if you had produced another set of facts rather than dismissing mine out of hand that would have been acceptable.

I don’t think I’ve been bitter to be honest. I’ve only really had a pop at Wane in his guise as England coach.

Furthermore I was big enough to hold my hands up last night and say that I may have mis-interpreted the Newman article (despite Phuzzy still continuing the argument)

I just found it strange that you produced a selection of stats that didn’t really provide a like for like comparison for a player that has been overlooked for England by the player that you are trying to say is inferior. Moreover the coach who has made the said selection is Mr Wigan.

I’ve said on this forum that since the CC SF Wigan have been the best team in the comp and deserved winners. I’ve been accused on Red Vee of a hysterical overreaction for having the temerity to suggest they may now embark on a dynasty with the signings made.

If that’s bitter then that’s your opinion. I certainly don’t think it is.

Smithies had a much better season than Knowles in 2023.

The vast majority of RL fans know that.

Knowles will bounce back though.

I rate Knowles but by his standards he’s had an average season. I totally agree that 2024 we will see the “old” Knowles. I like his aggressive style and his intensity. I don’t see his handling skills that Wane refers to but that may be my lack of regular and in depth review of his performances.
Smithies has improved enormously since Peet took on the Head Coaching role. His handling skills have improved to the point that he is, for me, now a better all round player than Knowles but again that could be because I see more of Smithies than Knowles. What I do know is that 90% of RedVee contributors will never rate Smithies because he played for Wigan. An insular and at at times a cesspit of vile comments with infantile references to us as Wigoons and Scum.
On balance I’d take Smithies over Knowles probably 8 times out of 10 primarily down to his better all round skills and
His far superior discipline.

Stu, if you want to produce a better or different set of stats please feel free. I simply produced Super Leagues official stats and interpreted them, what more do you want? We can only benchmark performance against the statistics that are readily available to us and the rugby league community rely on.

Agree on the lack of options for FB is a little disturbing. Personally I can’t think of any young FB coming through who might eventually replace or challenge Welsby. I like Brierley but I think that he’s just a little bit short of being top class.
At hooker I rate O’Neil and particularly Litten. I must admit I’ve never been a fan of Clark and he’s got an impossible job of trying to replace Roby. Forber who I rate highly could be the answer sooner rather than later.

Whereas “Stains” are always spoken of with such admiration and respect on here aren’t they?

I really don’t understand how some people on here feel that this place is in any way superior to redvee or any other forum. There are morons on every single one of them, both redvee and this one included.

The majority of Saints fans can’t be judged on a small handful of idiots who post tripe on Redvee, in the same way Wigan fans can’t be judged by certain clowns on here. Redvee is no more of a “cesspit” and contains no greater amount of “vile comments and infantile references” as this place, so I don’t know why Wigan fans use it as a stick to beat Saints fans with.