Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 7:03 am  

Early Bath wrote:

Don`t know about that as he`s just signed (last week) a 2 year extension so at the very least Salford would receive a much bigger payout. Hull FC offered him a Quarter of a Million to go East and he turned them down so money obviously isnt the issue. His kids are at A Level stage so maybe next year his arm could be twisted.

Rowley could commute from his home in Worsley to Leeds daily.

Hull is too far, so he would have to stay there overnight.

The logistics fit for Rowley signing with his family and home life, but I agree, his recent contract extension means he will cost big bucks.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 7:43 am  

Has Gary H written his letter to the YEP for the fans yet? No doubt mention the golden generation, stadium rebuild, covid etc. which are all incredibly stale now.

I'd imagine on Saturday there will be a fair few out on the beer for the afternoon and if Cas score first when we make an inevitable basic error it could turn nasty.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 12:57 pm  

Think it’ll become a little clearer after weekend.
Can’t see Smith leaving until end of season so we’ll get a leaving by mutual consent email and we’re going on a worldwide talent search, no stone left unturned, rhinos DNA , knows the club / knows the city / knows the milkman spiel.

We can’t be relegated so there’s zero urgency to appoint a new coach / back room team. Sad for this season but he’s already got your season ticket cash so what you going to do?

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 1:03 pm  

Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino wrote:

Think it’ll become a little clearer after weekend.
Can’t see Smith leaving until end of season so we’ll get a leaving by mutual consent email and we’re going on a worldwide talent search, no stone left unturned, rhinos DNA , knows the club / knows the city / knows the milkman spiel.

We can’t be relegated so there’s zero urgency to appoint a new coach / back room team. Sad for this season but he’s already got your season ticket cash so what you going to do?

Spot on.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 1:22 pm  

I don't think that is spot on. GH will, I imagine, want Leeds to be successful, winning things again, and attracting more sponsorship and higher attendances. What he won't want is declining support and spend at the club going forwards.

I don't know why so many seem to have such a negative attitude towards the club they support - maybe it's an ingrained "us and them" mentality. My view is that GH's race may well have run its course from some time ago now, but the club itself is still amazeballs and our facilities are the best in SL by a distance. Our foundations are solid, but clearly we are missing key elements still and have been for a long time.

It's far more likely that GH and other senior figures at Leeds are hungry for success and want us to be doing much better, than the idea of them sniffing white powder off girls at the weekend while laughing at the few hundred quid you might have ponied up.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 1:48 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I don't think that is spot on. GH will, I imagine, want Leeds to be successful, winning things again, and attracting more sponsorship and higher attendances. What he won't want is declining support and spend at the club going forwards.

I don't know why so many seem to have such a negative attitude towards the club they support - maybe it's an ingrained "us and them" mentality. My view is that GH's race may well have run its course from some time ago now, but the club itself is still amazeballs and our facilities are the best in SL by a distance. Our foundations are solid, but clearly we are missing key elements still and have been for a long time.

It's far more likely that GH and other senior figures at Leeds are hungry for success and want us to be doing much better, than the idea of them sniffing white powder off girls at the weekend while laughing at the few hundred quid you might have ponied up.

I don’t have a negative attitude, I have a realistic attitude that recognises the mess we are in. It goes without saying we have the best facilities in super l league. Which makes it frustrating when you see the dross that’s served up on the field. Have some sympathy with Hethrington he appointed Smith and Smith has failed. Although I am mystified as to what he saw in Smith , highlighted by the esteemed bullseye on the bulls site.Foundations are solid , but key elements missing for a long time? You might like to explain what the key elements are that we are missing, apart from the fact several players aren’t good enough for a potential top four club. Plus the coach is out of his depth.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 2:52 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

... the idea of them sniffing white powder off girls at the weekend while laughing at the few hundred quid you might have ponied up.

What a horrible image

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 3:14 pm  

Backwoodsman wrote:

I don’t have a negative attitude, I have a realistic attitude that recognises the mess we are in. It goes without saying we have the best facilities in super l league. Which makes it frustrating when you see the dross that’s served up on the field. Have some sympathy with Hethrington he appointed Smith and Smith has failed. Although I am mystified as to what he saw in Smith , highlighted by the esteemed bullseye on the bulls site.Foundations are solid , but key elements missing for a long time? You might like to explain what the key elements are that we are missing, apart from the fact several players aren’t good enough for a potential top four club. Plus the coach is out of his depth.

Well yes it looks that way - I've said loads before that in order for us to compete in the top 4 next season, which is one thing everyone on this forum would agree on - we need 2-3 real top quality signings. I would go prop, second row and a new scrum half. I'm assuming Martin will leave and whereas we lose Mr Consistent and a great goal kicker, it does give us an opportunity to find a more Sironen-esque player. Our pack is too soft throughout, we need to change it up.

I know this is as popular as a poo in a perfume factory but I think RS is a good coach, I'm just not sure where he comes back from losing the fan base to the extent he now has, and I said at the end of last year, he would live or die on his next signings and too many haven't worked unfortunately. His judgement has been off with too many players when the side us under so much pressure.

It looks increasingly like we need an experienced hand now to guide this young side forward. I wouldn't have a problem with that, but it does need to be a proven coach. Said elsewhere but from the little I've seen, Brad Arthur would be a good fit for us potentially, although his star has fallen quite a bit over the last 18 months a little like Demetriou.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 3:15 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I don't think that is spot on. GH will, I imagine, want Leeds to be successful, winning things again, and attracting more sponsorship and higher attendances. What he won't want is declining support and spend at the club going forwards.

I don't know why so many seem to have such a negative attitude towards the club they support - maybe it's an ingrained "us and them" mentality. My view is that GH's race may well have run its course from some time ago now, but the club itself is still amazeballs and our facilities are the best in SL by a distance. Our foundations are solid, but clearly we are missing key elements still and have been for a long time.

It's far more likely that GH and other senior figures at Leeds are hungry for success and want us to be doing much better, than the idea of them sniffing white powder off girls at the weekend while laughing at the few hundred quid you might have ponied up.

I agree with you here on GH. We're fortunate he's been such a success initially with rugby related matters, but overall as a custodian of the club, which is in a fantastic position overall.

I said on another thread, Smith was a gamble, which simply hasn't come off. His background isn't a million miles apart from Holbrook and Woolf in terms of assistant jobs and Qld Cup coaching, it's a real shame it's not worked.

Back on GH, I don't think he's run his race in terms of CEO, but I do think it's important to have a DoR figure, who will choose the head coach, be in charge of recruitment and oversee the rugby department. GH can then focus on his strength of running the business side of things. I used to think that Smith would ironically make a better DoR than coach, due to his ability to get rid of the deadwood on the roster, but his choices in recruitment this season have changed my mind, and I think we need a fresh approach altogether.

Re: Smith out ASAP : Tue May 28, 2024 3:21 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Well yes it looks that way - I've said loads before that in order for us to compete in the top 4 next season, which is one thing everyone on this forum would agree on - we need 2-3 real top quality signings. I would go prop, second row and a new scrum half. I'm assuming Martin will leave and whereas we lose Mr Consistent and a great goal kicker, it does give us an opportunity to find a more Sironen-esque player. Our pack is too soft throughout, we need to change it up.

I know this is as popular as a poo in a perfume factory but I think RS is a good coach, I'm just not sure where he comes back from losing the fan base to the extent he now has, and I said at the end of last year, he would live or die on his next signings and too many haven't worked unfortunately. His judgement has been off with too many players when the side us under so much pressure.

It looks increasingly like we need an experienced hand now to guide this young side forward. I wouldn't have a problem with that, but it does need to be a proven coach. Said elsewhere but from the little I've seen, Brad Arthur would be a good fit for us potentially, although his star has fallen quite a bit over the last 18 months a little like Demetriou.

Jim, give us an insight into what you like about Smith's coaching.

For me, I'm sure he has some really interesting ideas and thoughts. The reality is that this is one of the biggest jobs in world RL, and for whatever reason the messaging isn't getting across. It's not as black and white as people make out that he's a terrible coach, as he wouldn't have held the positions he has if that were the case, even at assitant level. I think Leeds is just too big and too much pressure for him. His tactics and philosophy might be better suited to a small, plucky side who could surprise teams with some unusual tactics the way Tolouse played in SL, but not for a top four club.