Rhinos throw barrier round Smith
Published Date:
07 October 2008
Wigan look set to miss out on Leeds ace Lee Smith - Rhinos have admitted Warriors spoke to the in-form winger earlier in the season, but they plan to raise protective barriers around the player.
Headingley chief executive Gary Hetherington insists his star turn is going nowhere at the end of a season that has witnessed a remarkable
turn-around in fortunes for the 22-year-old.
Smith's stock has risen considerably even in the space of the last week or so.
He scored two tries to help knock Wigan off the Old Trafford trail in the play-off eliminator 11 days ago before crossing for another touchdown and claiming the Harry Sunderland Trophy in Saturday's Grand Final triumph over St Helens.
Smith now looks a certainty to tour Australia with England in the forthcoming World Cup.
Such heady achievements are a far cry from the start of the 2008
campaign when Smith was out of sorts at Leeds and facing up to the possibility of furthering his career at another club amid rumours that his attitude wasn't all that it could be.
Hetherington said: "Earlier in the season when Lee wasn't getting into the first team, we gave him permission to talk to several clubs, including Wigan.
"But he came back and said he didn't want to go anywhere.
"He insisted that he wanted to try and fight for his place and you saw the result of those efforts on Saturday night.
"He has got a contract for next season and I can't see him moving anywhere."
Wigan have admitted they are in the market for a new winger after releasing Liam Colbon and Mark Calderwood, both of whom will be plying their trades on Humberside next year.
But with purse strings still tight, Warriors are unlikely to swoop for Smith as his recent displays have considerably upped his transfer value.
However, Harlequins prop Gareth Haggerty is possibly within financial reach.
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The full article contains 332 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
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Last Updated:
07 October 2008 10:15 AM
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Source:
Wigan Evening Post
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Location:
Wigan