BY DAN

Intriguing news on the Raiders signing wire this morning, with reports emerging that the football team loved by you and every mother in existence is going to sign Morgan Smithies from the Wigan Warriors.

Let’s acknowledge it at the outset – I won’t pretend to be an expert on English players. But all reports are that the Raiders have acquired a talent player right as he’s emerging into his prime. He’s got the work-rate of a shearer (Super League single-game tackles record of 72 tackles in a game), and had the most tackles in the Super League last season. In the Super League Grand Final he had 52 tackles and 19 runs (thank you JB for that one). From what I’ve seen quick feet and agility to match a physical presence in defence that normally doesn’t come with that amount of output.

He’s just 22 and has already played for England. There doesn’t appear anything flashy about his game yet, but there’s time and opportunity for that to emerge. He’ll cost a good amount, and come with a transfer fee the size of the Telstra Tower, but as we’ve said recently, cap space is not an issue. If there’s an upside concern it’s that the Raiders are paying good money for someone who is just effort. That’s a high-floor risk worth taking.

The fit is where it becomes intriguing. Most Raiders fans will be acutely aware that there’s a dire need for backrow support. Smithies has played backrow in England but only on occasion. On his highlights you can see the kind of footwork, defensive mobility and line-running that might allow him to play edge in the NRL, but it’s definitely not a clear path. He may be an elite athlete for the Super League, but here he won’t have the same advantage, and that makes any transfer to the edge more of a guess than a certainty. John Bateman came with the same questions (ok ok calm down everyone let’s not put too much on the kid).

The Raiders may be trusting their system (including the presence of Elliott Whitehead) to turn Smithies from a ‘sometimes’ to an ‘everytime’ second-rower. That’s a big bet to make, but given their inability to secure top-level talent at that position, finding alternative pathways to the same solution is understandable. We’ve noted this is a possibility with the Simi Sasagi signing, and the Raiders may be thinking something similar with Smithies, with just a bit more upside vibes. Essentially go get some talent, and if he can fill backrow then all the better. If he can’t you’ve still got a talented middle that has the potential to be a lot more.

If he’s playing in the middle it’s a more curious fit. At best he’d team with Corey Horsburgh to release the rest of the side from the responsibility of making tackles. Put them on the field together and let everyone else rest. Just 80 minutes of dudes making hits. It would be address an area of unspoken weakness (well, outside of these pages) – the Raiders middle defence was dire in 2023, and Smithies, along with Horsburgh, could be an important partnership in addressing that fact.

That defensive robustness would allow flexibility in a middle rotation that relied too much on certain players in 2023. Smithies could play middle alongside both Hohepa Puru (providing defensive cover for a smaller frame), or as the ‘pace’ among a bigger unit of Papa/Taps/Horse. If he can add a passing game then that will make that mix make more sense. With Papa entering his autumn years, the Raiders need another middle to emerge. Smithies may have fast-tracked that process.

If there’s a downside it’s that the Raiders would be spending money acquiring talent to bolster an area that should be a strength, rather than fixing an outright weaknesses. This is a worthy critique and one considering in depth. The Milk already have Mariota, Mooney, and Puru desperate to get minutes in the middle. Is Smithies another obstacle in their way? Does he offer anything different? Coach Stuart would undoubtedly say it’s about earning your spot, and his competition philosophy would shine right through but at some point the kids need to be trusted. Peter Hola, Pasami Saulo, Mariota and Mooney are all off contract this year (Puru is also negotiating a deal) Perhaps a decision has been made we won’t know about until later.

But for the most part it seems like smart business from the Raiders. Going back to England is a risk, but given the talent that has walked out the door recently (and not walked in it, so to speak) they had to continue to look elsewhere. They do have dwindling roster spots (by my count Smithies makes 27, Puru 28, and hopefully Sanders 29) but this is a good use of those precious positions. He may not be the backrower we want, but maybe he becomes a middle we need.

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