Can Smiddy get an early release?

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Hooker of the year Kid. Can’t deny it. The guy is a superstar.

Crazy, not even regarded as the best hooker at his club, if he was he would be staying there. Not an 80 minute player. Sure he's a great X factor, but the hype is way ahead of what he has done. I rate Rads as better than Smith. But as I have said, he AND Verrills will work well for us, and the speed of the game these days favours rotation at hooker/dummy half.

[Thirteen]

Crazy, not even regarded as the best hooker at his club, if he was he would be staying there. Not an 80 minute player. Sure he's a great X factor, but the hype is way ahead of what he has done. I rate Rads as better than Smith. But as I have said, he AND Verrills will work well for us, and the speed of the game these days favours rotation at hooker/dummy half.

Grant is excellent but Smith is far more influential as a player than Grant. Also you can’t compare Rads to Smith. They play different positions. They both have some versatility about them but Rads is a lock and Smith is a Nine. Glad they are both Chooks.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Grant is excellent but Smith is far more influential as a player than Grant. Also you can’t compare Rads to Smith. They play different positions. They both have some versatility about them but Rads is a lock and Smith is a Nine. Glad they are both Chooks.

I like Smith, but he is WAY over hyped, 2021 was his BEST season, in terms of line breaks, line break assists and tackle busts, way over his average of previous years BUT he still only averaged 50 minutes, 24 tackles, 8 runs for less than 80 metres, 2.5. missed tackles per game.

Over the last 3 years he has averaged 50 Minutes, 24 tackles, 9 runs, 90 metres, 2.5 missed tackles. ONE line break every THREE games, ONE LBA every FOUR games, TWO tackle busts per game and ONE offload every THREE games.

He is NOT a Teddy, or a Cronk, or a Keary, or a JWH, or a Radley. He's a very good player, and now he's a Chook, so I hope he does well, but if we lose Verrills because we signed him, he better do bloody better than he has so far in his career.

[Thirteen]

I like Smith, but he is WAY over hyped, 2021 was his BEST season, in terms of line breaks, line break assists and tackle busts, way over his average of previous years BUT he still only averaged 50 minutes, 24 tackles, 8 runs for less than 80 metres, 2.5. missed tackles per game.

Over the last 3 years he has averaged 50 Minutes, 24 tackles, 9 runs, 90 metres, 2.5 missed tackles. ONE line break every THREE games, ONE LBA every FOUR games, TWO tackle busts per game and ONE offload every THREE games.

He is NOT a Teddy, or a Cronk, or a Keary, or a JWH, or a Radley. He's a very good player, and now he's a Chook, so I hope he does well, but if we lose Verrills because we signed him, he better do bloody better than he has so far in his career.

It’s not as if he can’t play 80. He just hasn’t as he’s had to share the roll with Grant. I have no doubt he will become an 80 minute player.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

It’s not as if he can’t play 80. He just hasn’t as he’s had to share the roll with Grant. I have no doubt he will become an 80 minute player.

He has NEVER played 80 Minutes in the NRL. So is Bellamy STUPID ?? Why will he suddenly become an 80 minute player ? who makes 50 tackles, like most hookers, and will he get a kicking game too, and will his dummy half service improve?? If you think he will keep up the X factor stuff and play 80 minutes you are dreaming.
Why all the love for Smith ?? Loose cannon, piss head, BENCH PLAYER. I just don't see it.

[Rooster1908]

He has NEVER played 80 Minutes in the NRL. So is Bellamy STUPID ?? Why will he suddenly become an 80 minute player ? who makes 50 tackles, like most hookers, and will he get a kicking game too, and will his dummy half service improve?? If you think he will keep up the X factor stuff and play 80 minutes you are dreaming.
Why all the love for Smith ?? Loose cannon, piss head, BENCH PLAYER. I just don't see it.

Might need to go to spec savers

[mattyh]

He has NEVER played 80 Minutes in the NRL. So is Bellamy STUPID ?? Why will he suddenly become an 80 minute player ? who makes 50 tackles, like most hookers, and will he get a kicking game too, and will his dummy half service improve?? If you think he will keep up the X factor stuff and play 80 minutes you are dreaming.
Why all the love for Smith ?? Loose cannon, piss head, BENCH PLAYER. I just don't see it.

i hate to agree with you , but your kinda right here.

i'm presuming there is going to be some subbing on/off for smith, and maybe a stint in the second row , but will the hooker be when smith is off or playing another position? especially if verrills leaves ?

[itsdan]

i hate to agree with you , but your kinda right here.

i'm presuming there is going to be some subbing on/off for smith, and maybe a stint in the second row , but will the hooker be when smith is off or playing another position? especially if verrills leaves ?

Connor Watson, he would rotate between lock and hooker IMO.

[ism22]

It’s not as if he can’t play 80. He just hasn’t as he’s had to share the roll with Grant. I have no doubt he will become an 80 minute player.

He does play 80 though? General pattern is...
- [Prior years]... he was a #14 under Cameron Smith. I think it's pretty obvious why he didn't play 80 there. But, Cam Smith was subbed off for Brandon Smith. It wasn't a Grant-style situation where he needed his hand to be held. Also, he played 80 during Origin and the like.
- Now... Drizz belt the opposition into submission for 60 minutes with Brandon on the field. When Harry Grant comes on for his 10 minute stint, Smith stays on. He doesn't get subbed off for Grant... he does the defence while Grant does the Cook/Murray-style dummy runs down the middle.

Preliminary final... Smith failed an HIA and Grant was forced to play ~60 minutes. As soon as that happened, Melbourne's odds went down the shytter.

[Waylander]

He played 80 min against Newcastle in Rnd 18, and his stats were pretty good.

You need to also remember that last year was his first year as an NRL starting hooker, having played as a bench player behind Cam Smith before that (often coming on in the backrow). You can't really judge his stats before 2021 because it's not a fair comparison. He freely admitted in his infamous podcast that he had only played one season as as starting hooker and that he had a lot to learn and improve on. Don't judge him too harshly on previous stats.

[King Salvo]

Salvo can you please list your top 10 players in the comp in order.

Based on 2021

1.Turbo
2 Tedesco
3. Cleary
4. Walker
5. Hughes
6. Mitchell
7. Hass
8. Cherry-Evans
9. Isaiah Papali'i
10. Gutherson

[Thirteen]

Based on 2021

1.Turbo
2 Tedesco
3. Cleary
4. Walker
5. Hughes
6. Mitchell
7. Hass
8. Cherry-Evans
9. Isaiah Papali'i
10. Gutherson

I like your list. I’d have to agree with the top 7. So you think Papali’i is the second best forward in the game? Big call Mate.

Good list. Thank you for your effort in putting it together.

[Chookies74]

It wasn't Fatrell wasn't happy with the club...people led him to believe he was worth 1.5 mill a season...he has regrets dont you worry about that he is still hurting...he farked up big time

good to hear...karma's a bitch

[GrubBER]

Looks like this convo has come up again in the footy world, especially between the Roosters & Storms, im hearing somethings brewing and Smith’s not feeling the love at all down South, 2022 is a big possibility!!!

[ism22]

Looks like this convo has come up again in the footy world, especially between the Roosters & Storms, im hearing somethings brewing and Smith’s not feeling the love at all down South, 2022 is a big possibility!!!

Won't hold my breath but it would be awesome!

His signing was the second most liked post on FB in 2021 (pretty crazy for a late-year post in a year where Cords, Friend and Morris retired + Walker pulled off a lot of magic results). It's rare that a Storm player gets that sorta love from Bondi.

IMO Drizz should clear their books. They've chosen Harry Grant over a Dally M hooker and need to back their own decision rather than d!cking around IMO.