Rugby League’s Greatest Hybrid Player Comes to Life in Matty Smith’s Perfect Player
In an exciting new feature coming to Love Rugby League in 2024, the publication invites players – both past and present – to build their ultimate rugby league player. Former England international and two-time Super League champion Matty Smith is the latest to take on this challenge, meticulously crafting his “perfect player” across five crucial attributes: passing, kicking, speed, tackling, and rugby IQ.
Rugby IQ
For the rugby IQ category, Smith without hesitation selected Saints legend Sean Long, a childhood hero whom he had the privilege of playing alongside. “He knows the game inside out,” Smith said, praising Long’s unparalleled rugby brain.
Passing
When it came to passing, the current St Helens women’s head coach and men’s assistant singled out teammate James Roby, lauding the hooker’s “dummy half passing” as the best he’s ever seen. “His general passing was always on the button and made my job a lot easier,” Smith added.
Kicking
For kicking, the versatile playmaker opted for a dynamic duo – Saints icon Lee Briers and former Huddersfield Giants star Danny Brough. “Briers was something else when kicking over the sticks and last plays,” Smith remarked, while also highlighting Brough’s ability to “open you up with his kicking game alone.”
Tackling
In the tackling department, Smith drew from his own experience, selecting former Wigan Warriors stalwart Micky McIlorum. “He was a great person to play with in terms of his defence. You knew what you was getting with Micky, he’d just constantly put people on their backside and he did it with a smile on his face as well,” he explained.
Speed
Rounding out the perfect player, Smith chose the lightning-fast Martin Offiah for his unmatched speed, describing the Wigan and Great Britain legend as someone who would leave opponents in awe once he hit top gear.
Through this insightful exercise, Matty Smith has assembled a rugby league hybrid player that combines the best attributes of some of the sport’s all-time greats, creating a truly formidable and well-rounded athlete.
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