It shows just how far English RL is from the big guns of Australia and New Zealand when this bloke looks to be our first choice no 7 Down Under. He's a slightly above average player.



This bloke was totally anonymous in the Grand Final for starters.



I doubt our cousins from Aussie land will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing him.

Nice to see such a positive attitude before the start of the tournament.

I like Smith, especially if you're going to play (or use him to play) a structured game. He'd go quite well alongside another more off the cuff half.



I also don't think he'll be first choice. I think we'll play Tomkins and Widdop at 6 and 7.

Neither should England be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing the ego that is Cherry-Evans, but hey.

He's a St Helens bottler. Reminded me of Paul Loughlin with those goal kicks.

I know, how on earth they have neglected Luke Gale is just beyond me.

I think he's fairly limited as a player and needs a solid structure to play in. Wigan certainly gives him that so will be good to see how he goes for England.



Hope he does well tho.

Smith was as ineffective in Saturdays Grand Final as he was playing for us against the Pies at Old Trafford in 2010.

To be fair, when was the last time we had any half back who would cause the Aussies any concern??..... Andy Gregory and Shaun Edwards are probably the last two.



Quite simply, we have been a mile behind the Aussies in the backs for years - Only in the pack do we give them any sort of contest and that is where our only chance lies in international games.



Pray for a bit of wet weather and drag them into a forward tussle.

Smith is much improved and has probably be our best player this year but I still have a few doubts at the very highest level. We suit his game as much as he suits ours. We're a perfect match but I'm not sure England will play with the structure or the share of possession that we do. Without that I can see him being bagged by a good portion of our support and unlike Sinfield he won't be backed to the hilt by his coach.



I think he'll start against Samoa but come the Kiwi game we might be looking at Tomkins and Widdop in the halves with Hardaker at fullback.

The Aussies never 'quaked' about Edwards or even Gregory to be fair, but Smith looks desperately ordinary if he's the best halfback around SL.



Its not completely unique to SL though - the Dogs halfbacks are really average and they play for NSW and in two GFs here.

So far as I recall, the most recent encounter didn't go like you suggest it would, and England only lost due to a bizarre last minute combo of dumb penalty and Sinfield rushing out of the line. England would have been worthy winners and no fluke. It wasn't a mudbath and it was more than a good contest. I couldn't give a stuff if it was the backs, the forwards or the tea lady that did it, who cares?

That was NZ, not Australia.

I actually think our outside backs are pretty good at the moment, and can match the Aussies; but we struggle at 6 and 7