Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 10:37 am  

Loiner at large wrote:

100% agree,realistically it will take him 18 months to get to a position where we can call ot his squad of players and coaching and conditioning to the ideal level.

I see again there's this weird obsession with wanting to make everything a long drawn out affair, it fits with the general discourse on here about us starting a new 5-year project, for the last 5 years.

If he's the coach we hope is, and the coach he should be (based on GH appointing him) then he should be able to implement some quick wins structurally, have the players highly motivated and we should notice an uptick in performance pretty quick and be challenging for a playoff place. Then with a full pre-season and recruitment decisions, we should be challenging to reach the grand final next year. There are talented players in the squad, and a lot of young players with potential, a top coach can definitely make that work, remember this is super league not the NRL.

But yeah, once he's been here 10 years I think he'll truly be able to call the entire team, and the players coming through his own, and that's when we can judge him.

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 10:40 am  

One of the so called journalists has the headline in Leeds Live ,
questions about Richie Mylers marriage “dominated the press conference”scumbag!

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 10:41 am  

Under promise and over deliver?pretty normal I,d say!

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 11:11 am  

FlexWheeler wrote:

If he's the coach we hope is, and the coach he should be (based on GH appointing him) then he should be able to implement some quick wins structurally, have the players highly motivated and we should notice an uptick in performance pretty quick and be challenging for a playoff place. Then with a full pre-season and recruitment decisions, we should be challenging to reach the grand final next year. There are talented players in the squad, and a lot of young players with potential, a top coach can definitely make that work, remember this is super league not the NRL.

I think the key thing none of us know is whether this squad is underperforming or is (was) overrated. It lies at the heart of what we do and where we go next and I still don't think for most members of our team we know yet.

Can Bentley and Tetevano be tamed, can Sezer perform, are Prior and Briscoe past it, is Austin a flat track pony, is Fusitu'a ever going to be in a state where he can play effectively again, can Dwyer learn to pass, are Newman and Walker doomed to injury etc etc. So many questions that Smith needs to untangle which will determine how much this is a rebuild job and how much is a coaching one.

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 11:18 am  

Watching the press conference yesterday I was amazed just how like his father and uncle he is in the way he thinks and articulates. If his coaching is half as good as Brian when at Hull and the Bulls and Tony at Leeds then we will be on to a winner. I particularly liked the way he praised the work of JJB and indicated that change will not be an overnight thing. Man management is key to getting the extra bit out of players and the Smith’s excel in this department.
I really believe things are on the up.
Yes the Journalists at the press conference apart from the BBC and the YP were awful.

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 1:37 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

I'm not saying we shouldn't give him time, but I think we'll know pretty quick whether he's going to be a grand final coach, or the guy that takes us so far, before the real deal takes over and makes the last step.

If we don't notice an improved attack within 4 or 5 games, if he's not able to find some structural quick wins to get us scoring a few more points, then I don't think he's THE guy.

Yes i do agree with what you're saying here, undoubtedly we need to see progress being made and I did say that in an earlier post, but he definitely needs time (it can't be too long however, i get what you're saying), 4 to 5 games is a bit quick though imo to judge on progress especially given the injury crisis, we can't be too quick to judge.

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 2:05 pm  

Like FlexWheeler, I’d expect to see improvement in 5/6 weeks, we’re not talking making the local pub team play like the ‘82 Invincibles, but I’d expect discipline and small Structural improvements quite quickly.

I’d say the goal for the rest of the season is to win more than we lose, that would be progress.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 2:24 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

Like FlexWheeler, I’d expect to see improvement in 5/6 weeks, we’re not talking making the local pub team play like the ‘82 Invincibles, but I’d expect discipline and small Structural improvements quite quickly.

I’d say the goal for the rest of the season is to win more than we lose, that would be progress.

Indeed, hopefully we can get the troops back in and push on. Provided we can keep our squad relatively healthy then a push for the playoffs is a bare minimum result I'd like to see us acheive.

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 4:01 pm  

We are making progress (over the last 3/4 games) and I do think that given the fact that more front line players will be due back over the coming weeks the upward curve will be maintained. I understand the players are more United thanks to JJB rather than divided into cliques. Obviously a lot will depend on continued luck with the injuries and to improve and maintain discipline. I think as other teams start to struggle with injuries and form a top 5/6 finish is not out of the question. I do believe Rohan will be a success. However I think next year is a more realistic time for major improvement providing we get the recruitment and retention right!!

Re: 2022 - IN | Rohan Smith - Head Coach : Wed May 04, 2022 6:24 pm  

Fingers crossed he's a lucky coach. And it definitely plays its part. Uncle Tony, Brian Mac & Bluey could all have come unstuck early doors if their cards hadn't fallen right. We're due a bit.