Re: Smith out ASAP : Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:38 pm  

It's not just about results but performances that show the team is going in the right direction and that's not what we're seeing even going back to that cas win that was still a greatly flawed performance.

Smith didn't kick that miller drop out or tell him to directly, but he's absolutely set the system and ethos of this corner cuttingb/ trick plays and though I'm all for play what's in front of you rugby it's gone too far the other way (and as i was berated for saying earlier in the year) at the cost of high quality fundamentals

Re: Smith out ASAP : Fri Apr 26, 2024 9:33 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

What exactly is “something in the playoffs”? A victory and then getting knocked out? A battling defeat to Huddersfield? It’s so vague and far-reaching. Leeds should be aiming to win the grand final, every season. Is that realistic? Not in reality, but that should be the aspiration.

So nowhere this season and then top 4 next season, that’s your aim? That would mean it had taken Smith 3 full seasons to simply get us in the top 4. That’s absurd. Again, people are obsessed with this long, drawn out arduous transition period.

Wigan have a model of bringing through their own coaches. Saints have always been able to find the best from overseas willing to join SL. Smith is neither, he’s meh, nothingness.

Sorry to say that you're spot on Flex.
The rebuild is never ending.
All the excuses are wearing thin with Smith.
He had to get rid of the dead wood.
He's replaced the entire spine.
Salary cap restrictions.
Etc, etc, etc.....
The best coaches can get the best out of what they have.
This is his third season and we are currently no better than we were under Agar.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Sun Apr 28, 2024 4:01 pm  

Can we change the thread name from asap to NOW please

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 6:47 am  

I am concerned that when we finally do get the balls to remove Rohan, that Christopher etc. will give the next coach three years before deciding whether he is good coach or not as it won't be his team or signings.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:25 am  

That's not really fair. Christopher - as with many of us - were hoping that Smith might be the long term answer, and also recognized that the squad he inherited was awful. I still think last year was partly down to having a team on the field that was going to get culled at the end of the year, and managing that was no easy task. What we're seeing now though is that performances are sagging back to the worst of last season, despite on paper being a much stronger squad.

Wat we cannot do if we bring in a new coach is remove focus off junior development. We've got a bunch of younger players who look really exciting, and they need to be brought on. That's a difficult balancing act if the focus for a new coach is to win at all costs.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 9:18 am  

Handley, Fus, both prior international wingers out. Newman out. Momirovski injured second half. Holroyd out.

It's not just the players we're missing, it's the disruption it causes when we have to shift other players around. Roberts is not a winger. Martin is not really a centre.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be playing better despite that because we should. But there is a link between injuries and performance and results. And injuries are not the fault of the coach.

For me there are a few things happening at the same time. Injuries have definitely affected us again this year, in pre-season and in-season.

I think our ruck is rubbish on the whole; that is a coaching issue mostly, also a player-driven issue because if the technique isn't there in your mid-20s, are you ever going to get it?

The other thing for me is that I still think we are 2-3 star players off a good side. We still lack quality. To some extent, I think we have plugged a couple of holes we had, especially with Croft. However we have also got kindof what we expected: a Reserve grade 7 and a maverick 1 who makes mistakes.

Seen flashes of quality from Momirovski but he's had injuries too (consistent with his history in NRL...). Ackers I've actually been a little disappointed with so far, he is obviously a high quality player but I don't think he's found his feet yet, probably because we lose the ruck or fail to get into good ball so much of the time.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 9:46 am  

When you've got your entire first choice spine available and 3 of your first 4 props available there really is no excuse for the level of shte served up yesterday even factoring in the 3/4s missing. Hull were missing more significant players , are crap and we still limped our way to 2 points. Smith has to go.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 10:43 am  

Anybody would think other teams do not suffer injuries the way some people talk on here and I get sick to death with that excuse. Look at Salford with other teams cast offs, what's the difference, they have a decent coach.
The best coaches get the results with what goes on the pitch that day, regardless of the team.
Smith does not get the best regardless whether a first choice team never mind one with injuries.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 11:40 am  

Of course the coach has lots to do with getting any group of players to perform to their potential, but lots of you on here struggle to hold two things true at the same time and you’re way too binary in your thinking. Of course injuries affect performances, it’s a nonsense to think otherwise.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Mon Apr 29, 2024 12:07 pm  

He is obviously capable of getting players to perform. When he arrived he took a group of underperformng players and got them to overperform to a grand final. Yes the circumstances were very different but he still managed to achieve it.

For some reason things are not clicking yet but they may not be as far away as some seem to think. As difficult as it may be, a little more patience is still needed.

I'm not enjoying see us in this position, not enjoying watching away games on tv or even going to Headingly. We seem to have forgotten that this is Rugby and not football, it takes longer for a team to come together in our game and the football ethos of blaming the coach, sacking and getting a new one does not work particullarly well.
It's not how you start a season, its how you finish. you can win the GF from as low as 6th, that would be a new record for everyone to talk about!