Personally, I lost faith around the time of the Challenge Cup loss, and the performances after then built on that. I wasn't happy with last year but I did think we needed a lot of new blood, and was sort of willing to accept the chaos it caused. What changed for me was that despite the new faces the problems with the performances were the same.



Should I have hopped off the Smith train earlier? Maybe, with the benefit of hindsight. But there weren't many people calling for Smith's head when Ackers and Croft were announced in the off season. Were you suggesting Smith should have been sacked in 2022? If not, why not? Wasn't it obvious as he turned us from relegation candidates to grand finalists that he was utterly incompetent? Or does that not count for some reason?



I just don't see the point in having a dig at people for hoping that things would turn around. Anyway Arthur seems like the real deal, and I do like what he says after matches, calling out individuals for issues with performances even when we win is a refreshing change. I think I'd be happy if he stays even if for just one year.

harigeorgeson wants a word

I agree on Smith, I don't think he was unintelligent, incompetent or clueless. I honestly think it's more bad luck than anything that it didn't work out. I think more than anything he was too stubborn and set in his own philosophies of how the game should be played. Arthur has already shown his experience, he will have to adapt to the slow speed of the ruck, not the other way round that.



On the game, what a great performance, but we need to back it up. For me O'Connor needs to start at 13, and as others have said move Cam Smith to prop (and do shorter minutes). If Bentley could play like that every week, we'd be a totally different team. It's not often you see a Leeds backrow dominate. Martin has that bit of class, footwork and skills, Bentley frustrates and is everywhere, and McDonnell was physical upfront and aggressive. Love the way Arthur said in his post match presser Bentley still needs to prove himself to Arthur if he wants to stay out on the pitch.

Strange you should resurrect that one......

Grade E charge for Smith according to Pies forum.

By the way, anyone still disappointed that we lost Walters?



Maybe he would have kicked on given more opportunities, and he would certainly add a bit of size to our pack, but from what I've seen of him at Wigan he's regressed to his form of the Agar era. So much for being our best player of 2023, according to Jon Wilkin...



I note some Wigan fans want him to play prop in the coming game against Saints

He's not a second rower IMO, played all his best games for us as Prop - it was never the big loss that was made out to be, however I would have him back but not to play SR

Yes, I agree, it seemed that in the run to the 2022 GF he would make a decent prop, but I had the impression that he prefers SR and that may have been one of the reasons why he left? Aside from Smith not picking him at the start of 2023?

Clearly not kicked on as much as he would have hoped but would still liked to have retained him. He needs to bulk up. Far too slim for his height.

Attitude issues apparently.

He does seem to play with arrogant smirk, which seems to worsen when he makes a mistake.

I finally got around to watching the game. The defense was superb throughout, every player gave it everything. Although, there were still too many errors, especially in the first half. We can't afford to make as many mistakes against Warrington.