Raiders sign Morgan Smithies on three year deal from 2024

[GreenMachine]

Smithies looks like a traditional "middle" style lock forward. But Horsburgh has been evolving into a player with more skills in attack, and fitter. So perhaps he can also cover Whitehead being spelled. They won't be recruiting Smithies from England not to play him in firsts, we can be pretty sure of that. Recruited players (eg Levi and Saulo) seem to come on that promise.

The alternative way to look at Smithies is that he is a high involvement defender, like Whitehead. But Whitehead gets lots of traffic as he misses a lot of tackles (and doesn't do a lot of damage in defence). Smithies doesn't miss a lot of tackles (tackle efficiency over 95 per cent). So there's an improvement likely there if he substitutes for Whitehead. Maybe Stuart hopes to develop his threat in attack. But then again he only made three offloads this year, 77 average running metres and 21 tackle breaks.

Contender for joke of the month.

[Raiders_Pat]

obviously he’s a talented player so that’s good

But I can’t pretend it’s not a little disappointing we’ve added yet another body, even if it’s a pretty high quality one, into a middle forward rotation that is already so log jammed that we can’t reliably get Trey Mooney NRL opportunities.

At least it sounds like he’s a legit 13 though so that’s something very positive

Those were my initial thoughts too but if we're able to move on a prop then I don't mind it at all. We've got Saulo and Hola going into the 1 November market, if one of them are able to find a deal elsewhere then we should be looking at an early release if possible.

Yeah we really aught to be trying to offload a middle forward or two, take on freight if we have to, we have the cap to absorb it.
And look, you cant complain about adding quality talent and this guy seems to be a quality talent so not complaining

but we're overinvested in middles and the edge forward problem HAS to be addressed.

Agree there 100% but as I outlined here https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 4#p1962524 I don't see us addressing the second row question until 2025 which is frustrating. If we offload a middle forward, we've got one spot left in the top 30 and I'm certain it will be filled with a journeyman halfback as we're currently one man short. I think we can make it work for one season though provided we get some minutes out of Smithies or Mooney at second row so Whitehead isn't playing the full 80 mins each week.

[Northern Raider]

Club: Loses tonnes of first grade experience, signs noone.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, why haven't we signed anyone! We need some experience!

Club: Signs player with 100+ games of experience, Grand Final winner, English test player.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's not the player I wanted.

**** hell you lot.

Who exactly is "you lot"?

[Raider47]

If this guy is coming as a lock I'm deeply disappointed.

Pretty much would put a red line through Puru and Mooney for next year IMO, knowing Ricky's lovefest with Guler and Saulo.

If we have him earmarked as a second rower I'm more interested however I've hardly heard any glowing endorsements for him in that role.

[Rickmando]

Tackle machine.

Another grinder?

He’ll fit right in!

[afgtnk]

Smithers

[-PJ-]

I hope he doesn’t treat our club like Jonneh did.

You know, demand an upgrade, throw the toys and go home.

[Timbo]

All the posts I've read on other socials from Wigan fans say they're deeply saddened to lose him and he's only gone from strength to strength in the last two seasons.

I choose to be excited.

[RedRaider]

Looks a good player in an area we need to vastly improve, our defence. Time will tell on his attack. Some Englishmen have adapted quickly to the speed of the NRL, EW for one in his early days. Mr. Posh has mentioned Smithies before. I look forward to his assessment.

I also hope he is not the last of the off season signings from England. We are prepared to pay transfer fees for Smithies so lets look at Jack Welsby who can play anywhere from 1 to 6.

[SeeBee101]

Looks a good player in an area we need to vastly improve, our defence. Time will tell on his attack. Some Englishmen have adapted quickly to the speed of the NRL, EW for one in his early days. Mr. Posh has mentioned Smithies before. I look forward to his assessment.

I also hope he is not the last of the off season signings from England. We are prepared to pay transfer fees for Smithies so lets look at Jack Welsby who can play anywhere from 1 to 6.

Now that would be a good transfer. Welsby would be a massive win for the club....

[President Clinton]

Smithers

I think we can all agree it’s a great name.

[-TW-]

Just need to sign a Burns and we'll be set

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[PNGRaider37]

Any chance Ricky patches things up with Georgy williams in the process? Wishful thinking.. I know

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders keen on Englishman Morgan Smithies

The Raiders have their sights on Wigan lock Morgan Smithies after he tackled his way to the English Super League title. He's contracted to Wigan until the end of 2025 - meaning they'd have to pay a transfer fee if the Warriors were willing to let him go. Because he's on-contract, discussions haven't progressed to the point of talking about contract length.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

[Matt]

Club: Loses tonnes of first grade experience, signs noone.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, why haven't we signed anyone! We need some experience!

Club: Signs player with 100+ games of experience, Grand Final winner, English test player.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's not the player I wanted.

**** hell you lot.

When u have 9 middles, incl rep guys in the starting spots and a bunch of young kids who are ready, and have been road blocked already, why add another middle??? Esp when there are only 3 edges on the roster, 1 of which has serious health concerns? This is the position of need, not middle.

Getting experience and talent is important but u still have to build a balanced roster.

[julian87]

Club: Loses tonnes of first grade experience, signs noone.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, why haven't we signed anyone! We need some experience!

Club: Signs player with 100+ games of experience, Grand Final winner, English test player.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's not the player I wanted.

**** hell you lot.

When u have 9 middles, incl rep guys in the starting spots and a bunch of young kids who are ready, and have been road blocked already, why add another middle??? Esp when there are only 3 edges on the roster, 1 of which has serious health concerns? This is the position of need, not middle.

Getting experience and talent is important but u still have to build a balanced roster.

That’s only if you believe prop and lock are the same thing.

[Dusty]

A short evaluation from my mate in the UK who knows his stuff:

"Yeh he’s good. Plays in the middle and he’s a tough ****. Likes winding everyone up too.
Only downside, he’s a bit of a loose canon so in the soft modern game he gives a few penalties away etc"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Matt]

Club: Loses tonnes of first grade experience, signs noone.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, why haven't we signed anyone! We need some experience!

Club: Signs player with 100+ games of experience, Grand Final winner, English test player.

Fans on GH: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's not the player I wanted.

**** hell you lot.

When u have 9 middles, incl rep guys in the starting spots and a bunch of young kids who are ready, and have been road blocked already, why add another middle??? Esp when there are only 3 edges on the roster, 1 of which has serious health concerns? This is the position of need, not middle.

Getting experience and talent is important but u still have to build a balanced roster.

That’s only if you believe prop and lock are the same thing.

Between Horse, Puru and Mooney I don't need another lock. Ideally Whitey is in the mix there too, coz we have more edges

[Sid]

Smiddy not selected for the England squad. I've not seen him play or heard of him until this signing announcement but I am OUTRAGED that he's been overlooked for selection.

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[Botman]

Another Raider snubbed for rep honours
DISGRACEFUL

[Timbo]

Smiddy not selected for the England squad. I've not seen him play or heard of him until this signing announcement but I am OUTRAGED that he's been overlooked for selection.

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Not going to lie - was slightly outraged when I saw his name missing

[Wiki Special]

Hmm could Ricky put Smithies at 13 and horse in the 2nd row permanently?

I won't be shocked to see Horse spending a fair bit of time in the 12 jersey next season as a gap filler until we get someone for 2025.

[Beejay]

If we are going to be subbing in young and inexperienced 6 and 1, then a tough and experienced forward pack will be important.

Mooney and Mariota are going to need big offseasons to get minutes in this pack. Which is a good thing.
Strong platform for young and talented players to do their thing.

If we announce another decent edge we can squeeze out of an NRL roster (cowboys/Roosters) I’ll feel much more confident

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders to pay six figure transfer fee Super League star Morgan Smithies

Canberra is expected to agree a six-figure transfer fee with Super League champions Wigan in coming days as the Raiders prepare to add emerging English star Morgan Smithies to their ranks for next season. The Raiders have been locked in talks with Smithies’ agent, Liam Ayoub, and Wigan officials for weeks.

The parties are close to reaching an agreement, which would pave the way for Smithies to move to the nation’s capital on a deal that could stretch to as many as three years.

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 09b1601db2

[gerg]

I'm only basing it on others thoughts (re: tackling machine), but there's absolutely nothing wrong with us getting him considering how diabolical our defence was last season.

[gerg]

Smithers

I think we can all agree it’s a great name.

I was thinking Smiths chips, and being a stinking pom I'm not sure whether Salt n vinegar or Cheese and onion is the better option.

[Seiffert82]

I'll set my expectations low and hope he exceeds them.

Thankfully the pommy forwards usually go OK. Seems like a tough dude. That certainly can't hurt.

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[Hong Kong Raider]

Glad we finally got a new signing that is not a reserve grader like the Newcastle guy and Weekes. He didn't make the England squad yet Bateman, Whitehead and Radley did, which is a concern. Let's hope he doesn't turn out to be a Harry Rushton or Jordan Turner

[President Clinton]

A short evaluation from my mate in the UK who knows his stuff:

"Yeh he’s good. Plays in the middle and he’s a tough ****. Likes winding everyone up too.
Only downside, he’s a bit of a loose canon so in the soft modern game he gives a few penalties away etc"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not bad to have an enforcer in the side of younger players are coming through.

[FuiFui BradBrad]

Smithers

Will be great when we get stupid sexy Sanders

[greeneyed]

Glad we finally got a new signing that is not a reserve grader like the Newcastle guy and Weekes. He didn't make the England squad yet Bateman, Whitehead and Radley did, which is a concern. Let's hope he doesn't turn out to be a Harry Rushton or Jordan Turner

Harry Rushton is still only 21 and a good up and coming player. No comparison with Jordan Turner.

[PNGRaider37]

Smithers

Will be great when we get stupid sexy Sanders

No transfer fee too. So we get him for "nothing at all."

[Kermit]

We seem to have problems in closing out the deal….

Sanders -> to be confirmed
Weekes -> to be confirmed
Smithies -> to be confirmed

We only have Sasagi confirmed.

Happy to be corrected.

[Matt]

Smithers

I think we can all agree it’s a great name.

I was thinking Smiths chips, and being a stinking pom I'm not sure whether Salt n vinegar or Cheese and onion is the better option.

[Matt]

Glad we finally got a new signing that is not a reserve grader like the Newcastle guy and Weekes. He didn't make the England squad yet Bateman, Whitehead and Radley did, which is a concern. Let's hope he doesn't turn out to be a Harry Rushton or Jordan Turner

VERY harsh on Rushton. He was having a very similar yr to the 1 Puru just had, or the past 2 yrs Mooney had, the yr Harry debuted. It was very much a coaching thing that stopped him from making an impact.... that and a broken jaw co-insiding with Covid.