The Tim Smith + Thomas Lealaui Poll

[Jake the snake]

10 votes for Smith not bad.

 

[fish eel]

It did not help when he was played at 5/8 all the time, Just to accomodate Witt and Thorman

whether he played half or 5/8, he still looked better than witt

 

[greena]

What a bunch of tossers, he was a dissapointment when he was promoted to PL and looked out of his depth.

Will need to improve a lot in the off season if he is to hold down a spot in PL let alone play firsts

 

[Utey]

Your an idiot. You obviosuly havent followed our younger grades

 

[The Colonel]

Your an idiot. You obviosuly havent followed our younger grades

UTE - its an opinion to which greena is entitled so lets leave the persoinal comments OFF the pages....

What a bunch of tossers, he was a dissapointment when he was promoted to PL and looked out of his depth.

Will need to improve a lot in the off season if he is to hold down a spot in PL let alone play firsts

Same for you greena...

 

[Utey]

Smith is bounds ahead of Witt and IMO Witt would have never cracked first grade if we had not had so many injuries in 03'.

 

[Jake the snake]

What a bunch of tossers, he was a dissapointment when he was promoted to PL and looked out of his depth.

Will need to improve a lot in the off season if he is to hold down a spot in PL let alone play firsts

greena

T Smith Could improve facets of his game but how could u judge him when he was playing 5/8 most the time in PL. He was out of position. All I know is that he is 100 times better than Witt. And that he can organise a team very well.

 

[greena]

I have been watching all 3 grades for 40 years and have a fair grasp of what it takes.

There are hundreds of kids who start grade and look like world beaters, but for a variety of reasons never progress. What I have noted is that the ones who don't progress, usually are shown up as soon as they move up to PL. The ones who end up first graders more often than not shine and even go better when they move up to PL, wether they play out of position or not - the talent shines through.

Look at your first graders now, nearly all of them moved out of JF overnight and shone as soon as they moved up to PL and then firsts not long after.

Not Grothe, Burt, Morris, Cayless, Vella, Tsoulos, Afamasaga, Hindmarsh, Graham. Very few, even McKinnon starred in PL with Parra before switching to the bunnies and back again

All I am saying is that time and excuses are running out for Smith - he was dissapointing when he moved up to PL, and playing out of postion has little to do with it. He is promising but needs to show a lot more and is certainly not the great hope some people WANT to believe.

JWITH pARRA BEFORE SWITCHING TO sOUTHS AND BACK AGAIN e

 

[Jake the snake]

I have been watching all 3 grades for 40 years and have a fair grasp of what it takes.

There are hundreds of kids who start grade and look like world beaters, but for a variety of reasons never progress. What I have noted is that the ones who don't progress, usually are shown up as soon as they move up to PL. The ones who end up first graders more often than not shine and even go better when they move up to PL, wether they play out of position or not - the talent shines through.

Look at your first graders now, nearly all of them moved out of JF overnight and shone as soon as they moved up to PL and then firsts not long after.

Not Grothe, Burt, Morris, Cayless, Vella, Tsoulos, Afamasaga, Hindmarsh, Graham. Very few, even McKinnon starred in PL with Parra before switching to the bunnies and back again

All I am saying is that time and excuses are running out for Smith - he was dissapointing when he moved up to PL, and playing out of postion has little to do with it. He is promising but needs to show a lot more and is certainly not the great hope some people WANT to believe.

JWITH pARRA BEFORE SWITCHING TO sOUTHS AND BACK AGAIN e

U bring up some good points there and u obviously have vast amounts of expieriance. But surely Halfback is a position where you develop as u go along. Tim Smith Dominated Flegg And as he went to premier League he came on Slowly but got better when he actually controlled the games. Don't forget this year he is 18 next year he 19.

 

[Utey]

Definately some valid points but his only 18. What can you expect from a kid who plays the most demanding postion on the football field. He will develop as time moves along. I wont expect him to shine immediately but if he plays as he does in the lower grades Ill be more than happy.

You cant really say time is running out, as he hasnt even hit FG.

 

[Avenger]

I have a feeling that if he comes Leuluai will do well for us. Look I'd love for Tim Smith to prove me wrong. He is a local boy. But people, Leuluai must be given some respect, he is a current test player with more experience and has played against the best. My vote at this stage therefore goes to Leuluai. If Smith or Green for that matter are professional enough they will prove me and other Leuluai supporters wrong.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Right now I'd say Leuluai is just ahead but in both players live up to potential then Smith is streets ahead.

I can't see Leuluai improving that much from where he is now but Smith on the other hand given 1/2 a year in reggies to sort out his game will be very good.

As was said when he 1st moved into reggies Smith didn't handle it too well but he did get settled and then start to play some great games.

As good as he is I don't think that Smith or Green are ready for 1st Grade from round 1 2004 and I doubt Marsh will be fit enough for starting half in round 1 2004.

Parra need someone to fill in for the 1st half or so of the year before one of Green, Smith or Marsh set up.

Then you basically toss a coin and pick Witt or Leuluai to fill that role.

 

[Avenger]

Witt's gone buddy.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Witt's gone buddy.

Yes

and Leuluai is coming

Thus, Tommy Boy won the coin toss

 

[Davester]

I have a feeling that if he comes Leuluai will do well for us. Look I'd love for Tim Smith to prove me wrong. He is a local boy. But people, Leuluai must be given some respect, he is a current test player with more experience and has played against the best. My vote at this stage therefore goes to Leuluai. If Smith or Green for that matter are professional enough they will prove me and other Leuluai supporters wrong.

Regarding your statement on Thomas Lealaui playing for the NZ international side. He was selected for the reason that the selectors didn't know who would be able to fill in the number 7 spot after Stacey Jones had left so they gave the number 7 spot to Thomas Lealaui and hoped for the best. You can see how much pressure is put on his shoulders and the in-experience shows.

I'm not trying to be hard on him or whatever, but that's my opinion that he's been brought too early into the international side and therefore that "international rep player" tag on him doesn't mean a great deal.

 

[eelsta]

doesnt matter how he plays he'll be one of smiths favourites and will get picked every week regardless :twisted: :twisted: :roll: :twisted:

 

[Avenger]

Maybe so, but the experience can only help his game not detriment it.

 

[BlueNGoldBlood]

isnt that all a part of the gamble of signing a young halfback tho isnt it
if he fires the whole team will go well but if hes a dud signing and takes up space it will just hinder someone else

 

[Rednecked Yobbo]

I got a feeling Lealaui could prove a handy buy. At a club thats run proffesionally, and with a halfback to help his game along (I know he was under Stacey ath the Warriors, but JT is not playing these days, so would have a better chance to work on him), it may become just the environment that the bloke needs.

 

[greena]

There are a lot of if's

Who will be half Leuluai or Marsh
Who will play 5/8
Who will be on the bench

I think Smith will be looking for an impact player on the bench when Riddell is spelled. His options are Marsh, Leuluai and Morris

I think he will go with Marsh and Morris as the halves with Morris taking over the dummy half role when Riddell is off the field and Leuluai coming on as the fresh reserve in the halves and even slipping into dummy half

Parra's options in attack have been limited over the last few years. I think Smith wants halves who are fast, can split an opposition with individual brilliance. Both Marsh and Leulai fit the criteria.

Smith will direct the palyers around the park but does not possess great speed and this is something that is being shown up as he moves up in the grades.

Anyway, I have nothing against Smith and hope he proves me wrong.