Wigan star Harry Smith isn’t fussed Hull KR are now getting all the plaudits – and still feels he’s in pole position to take on world champions Australia. The England scrum-half, 25, won everything with Warriors last term as they secured an historic quadruple.
But they sit four points behind leaders Rovers this time around with the East Yorkshire club having already bagged the Challenge Cup.
The Robins remain hot favourites for the League Leaders’ Shield, despite Sunday’s surprise home defeat to Leeds, and many people reckon they could go on and win a first Grand Final, too. Wigan slipped to a fourth defeat of the year with Friday’s 18-8 reverse at derby rivals Leigh so are coming under mounting pressure.
But Smith, who chalked up his 150th club appearance, maintains they don’t mind no longer being the centre of attention. He said: “You can see it as a positive and negative.
“It takes a bit of pressure off us, everyone focusing on KR, and rightly so: they’ve been playing really well. But I try not to read too much into it. I don’t really go on social media and all that.
“We just try and crack on and do what we do best. We’ve been a bit hit and miss; we’ve not played a full 80 minute performance the last few weeks so we need to get in a bit form. But that will click soon.”
It would be foolhardy for anyone to rule out Matt Peet’s side storming to a third successive title. And then comes the business of the Ashes. The Kangaroos arrive in October for a three Test series, the first here in more than 20 years with the second game being played at Everton’s new stadium.
Widnes-born Smith, a diehard Everton fan who visited the arena last week to get a taste of what’s to come, has been Shaun Wane’s ever-present number seven for the last two years.
Indeed, he’s still yet to taste defeat for England, featuring twice against France, in all three of the 2023 Tests against Tonga and both of last autumn’s successes against Samoa. But Rovers ace Mikey Lewis is reigning Man of Steel and pushing hard for a starting spot.
Asked if he feels he’s still in the driving seat, Smith replied: “Yeah, hopefully. I feel so. Waney always says once you get that shirt, it’s yours to lose.
“I feel I’m doing enough to keep my spot and I’m doing all right. There’s obviously areas where I can improve and keep getting better and obviously with the team gaining a bit of form, that’s going to show as well. So, it’s all in my hands, really. But I won’t take things for granted.”