Scrum-half has been rated better than the world’s best by Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski but all he’s bothered about is facing Samoa
Scrum-half has been rated better than the world’s best by Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski but all he’s bothered about is facing Samoa Scrum-half has been rated better than the world’s best by Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski but all he’s bothered about is facing Samoa
Down-to-earth Wigan star Harry Smith has been dubbed better than the world ’s greatest player Nathan Cleary so he should be ready to cash in.
But all the modest scrum-half wants is to nail a spot in the England team as they face Samoa in Sunday’s series opener at his club’s home stadium. Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski recently commented that Penrith and Australia superstar Cleary wouldn’t get a place in their side after Smith masterminded another Grand Final win. Asked, then, if he’d been in to see Radlinski about a pay rise, Smith, 24, joked: “I rang my agent straight after that interview so I don’t know if he’s spoken to Rads yet…
“I wasn’t sure what to think with those comments. Obviously, Nathan’s the best player in the world. I just do my bit. I just control what I can control. I don’t know what else to say. It was nice for Rads to back me like that – and I know it’s got a lot of media.”
Smith is battling Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis for the England No7 shirt. Livewire Lewis claimed Man of Steel as Super League’s best player this season. But Smith was player of the series against Tonga last year and delivered a brilliant kicking display to outplay his rival in Wigan’s Grand Final glory.
Does he feel miffed it’s even a debate? Smith replied: “I just back myself. I thought if I can control what I can control, I knew I’d been playing well for Wigan all year, like Mikey did some really good things. But when it comes to the big games, you have to step up and I feel like I did that. So that might help me get selected on Sunday. It might not. We’ll see.”
If Smith does play, he’ll be up against Cleary’s Penrith half-back partner Jarome Luai who captains Samoa for the first time but didn’t play when Wigan beat Panthers in February’s World Club Challenge win. He said: “It’d be unbelievable. He’s one of the best halves in the world. I think it’ll be a different role for him. Usually he’s stand-off but he might have to play scrum-half. It’d be good to face him if I do get selected. You just want to play against the best and test yourself.”
Many thought Smith’s kicking masterclass should have earned him the Rob Burrow Award as man of the match at Old Trafford but that went to Bevan French after his Wigan team-mate’s stunning solo try. But Warriors boss Matt Peet made a point of hailing Smith’s kicking when it matters most as it excelled again, just like it did against Penrith and in the Challenge Cup final glory. He admitted: “I feel I do play well in big games.
“But the way I play in big games it does help me. Kicking game is important with territory and organisation in big games because there’s a lot going on. The ball’s in play for a long time so you have to stay composed and that’s my game. That helps me in these sorts of games. Bevan is a bit annoying. I think I’d get man of the match a few more times if he wasn’t in our team.”
England boss Shaun Wane has confirmed uncapped Wigan second-row Junior Nsemba – who received a nasty head knock in the Grand Final – is “available” for selection while organisers say 12,000 tickets have been sold so far for the opener. The second Test is at Headingley on Saturday week.
Mirror – Sport
