Yeah good post mate. I think parts of Smith’s game are already really good, his distribution is brilliant and he’s got some vision about him but I suspect coaches will have reservations about starting him in big games until his defence improves. As you say he plays in a position where he’s got to make 2/3 dominant, controlled tackles every set and if you’ve got a hooker who can’t do that, especially at the start of the game, you’re obviously going to get torn apart through the middle. I think he’ll get more opportunities to start games as we get into the season and we’ll see how he goes then.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we won the GF last year with IMO the two best defensive half-backs in the league. I’m not sure you can carry ‘questionable’ defenders anymore to be honest anywhere.