I would be happy with that and a better choice than Danny Ward imo.

I'd rather Smith brings in someone from Australia that he knows. Its the home of the best coaches as well as the best players.

Chev Walker new assistant according to Leeds Live. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 142475.amp

Chev Walker new assistant according to Leeds Live. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 142475.amp

I`m not sure about this appointment of Walker.
Is it down to his ability or his friendship with Smith.
Let`s hope we don`t have another debacle when Sinfield gave jobs to his mates and extended contracts to other favourites when clearly it wasn`t based on their skill set.
On the other hand Walker might be a great coach and Smith has made the right decision.

I would have been very sceptical at the start of the year, but facts are facts - the Academy have just won the championship for the first time in years. Got to give him credit for that.

Don`t get me wrong I`m sure Smith knows what he`s doing getting rid of Long and replacing him with another of the golden generation.
And having someone in there you know has your back and you can trust is always a good thing.
Apart form him winning the GF with the Academy he`s not been well thought of before that.
Maybe he`s developed now as Smith certainly sees something in him.
Saying that didn`t he get rid of Long before Walkers team won the GF?

I wonder who'll replace Walker as academy coach

RS doesn't come across as someone who would give his mate a job if he wasn't good enough, and it risks putting the club back. Smith works with Chev on a daily basis, knows his approach to the game, knows his philosophy and sees how he interacts with the players. I have no idea on any of these, so aren't passing judgement. We'll know if it's a good appointment during the season. But good luck to Chev, he's a great bloke and he's done a great job winning the Academy title this season

Tempting as it is to try to guess the underpinning philosophy and strategy of the club's signings and appointments, maybe the overiding concern is to do things as cheaply as possible?

I agree with that to some extent.
The person who gets the job, any job for that matter isn`t always the best person for it.
Friendship and trust goes a long way when appointing it happens in all walks of life.
You see it in football when the new manager brings in his trusted team and the old coaching staff are removed.
It`s not because they are better it is because they can be trusted to implement the new managers way of working.
I`ve met Chev a few times and like you say he`s a great bloke and I`m sure he will fit in well with Smith.

That's true. But you do want someone you'll get on with. If they have a personal relationship, then that's an added bonus. Probably why most head coaches pick people they've already worked with to be in their coaching teams

Sean Long new Fev coach, that’s interesting. Either he always had his wings clipped for us or is just not a good coach as we saw no evidence if it.

D4mo78 wrote:
RS doesn't come across as someone who would give his mate a job if he wasn't good enough, and it risks putting the club back. Smith works with Chev on a daily basis, knows his approach to the game, knows his philosophy and sees how he interacts with the players. I have no idea on any of these, so aren't passing judgement. We'll know if it's a good appointment during the season. But good luck to Chev, he's a great bloke and he's done a great job winning the Academy title this season
****************************************

Great post agree with everything you say. I m suite 95% of posters on here do not know the background to appointments. Walker is obviously trusted and has had a successful season with a team that has had constant change due to the requirements of the first team (injuries and suspensions).
Deserves his chance and god luck.

I'm less fussed about who the assistant coaches are than who runs the academy tbh. And while winning the title at that level is nice, I'd be happier to see high quality spine players emerging on a more frequent basis. Chevs replacement is the key appointment imo.

Is cuthbertson going back home when he retires? I know he did well with the ladies and seems to be fairly well thought of as a coach. Wonder if he could be assistant number two.

He seems very involved with his "Lowcal" lager business so I doubt he's going back home at this point, think he has settled in York. I also doubt he will stay at Fev in his role as attack coach as he was very much a McDermott appointment I think.

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 576408.amp Of course its former Cas wigan player “casper”

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 576408.amp Of course its former Cas wigan player “casper”

Casper is the uncle to Cameron and Daniel Smith

Thought he was their cousin. But new they are related.

Matt Cook comes into some kind of rugby manager role - seemingly the one Sinfield had, although it sounds more like operational manager to me. I know its possible to have too many off-field people, but I think we went too far the other way and almost seemed to be trying to run the club like an amateur team. Smith seems to have shaken the place up on and off the field, which is no bad thing.

He's filling the Jason Davidson role isn't he ?

That'll give him plenty of room to grow then

The way RLWC2021 was managed, hopefully he isn't going to bring that experience with him.

I am happy that Matt Cook has joined the club as he's clearly a very intelligent guy

Rohan has obviously made this choice so we have to trust him on this appointment.

Jason Davidson was originally our strength and conditioning coach but he was eventually given a job for the boys role within the club in a managerial role when this was clearly not his area of expertise was he not?
Tony Smith has taken Jason to Hull FC in the roll of head of performance and strength and conditioning which kind of proves this fact.

Lets give Matt Cook Cook a chance guys

I worked as a volunteer at all the Headingley games in the RL World Cup, crossed paths with Matt a few times. He was hard working and I think he will do a great job. Never could fathom what Davidson did anyway.