Smith’s St Helens future still undecided

Matty Smith’s future at St Helens is still undecided, after the scrum-half was again unable to break into Justin Holbrook’s side against Widnes last Friday, despite Saints being without Ben Barba, Tommy Makinson and Ryan Morgan.

The 30-year-old has been out of favour all season, with Holbrook instead preferring to start gun halfback Danny Richardson and Jonny Lomax in the halves, while Theo Fages has been their regular bench utility.

Former England international Smith even found himself playing in the Championship earlier this month, turning out for Sheffield Eagles on dual-registration.

Holbrook earlier this season confirmed that Smith was still in his plans, but now admits he isn’t sure about his no.7’s long-term future: “Matty’s long term future here has not been decided but he is definitely part of our plans for the remainder of the season and will be called upon when needed. This is great, even though I never thought it would be any different.

“Naturally, he is not happy with the present situation but he is still training hard and doing all the right things. There has also been talk of him going on loan, or playing elsewhere, but this is not the case at this moment in time. However, I am not sure beyond that.”