I suspect what happens with Smith is no all to do with how much recruitment is already in the bag. If we have allot of deals all ready in/or almost in the bag, and results are down to some OC players just not giving a ****. Then GH will probably back smith snd write the season off similar to Warrington last year.

If little recruitment is done and players still playing for new deals then Smith is in trouble and will likely get the boot.

Of course neither could be the case and there for we are really clueless and clearly up s*** creek.

It's his approach to tactics I don't get. Slow line speed, passive defence, little pressure on the ruck in defence, no attempt to slow the other team down too much. No territory or possession game. No pessure on the opposition. I can't believe he doesn't understand why applying pressure is so important so you've got to conclude he consciously doesn't do it.

Contrast that with Penrith Panthers for example, one of the best teams around. Panthers suffocate their opposition, like to play the game in the opponent's half, make the opponent bring the ball back from their own line. Fast line speed. And it works.

I just don't get why Smith thinks doing the opposite of this would be successful.

its been based on some energy conserving philosophy that we dont have the players for (im not sure any team would) thats why i think he has to go as hes clearly got a fundamental approach which is never going to work. Short kick offs were quickly binned as a bad idea and in patches other things have too, ie the occassional pressure on the kicker. Its all over the place.

I can 100% guarantee this time next year we’ll be saying exactly the same thing - “time to sit tight and start planning for next season”.

Just relentlessly writing seasons off and “planning for the next one”.

Energy conservation? Be fit so you can play at high intensity for longer periods.

If Smith’s undying philosophy is purposefully playing at lower intensity to be fresher he needs to be sacked now, this second.

Have you flip flopped again? I seem to remember you singing Rohan’s praises the other week.

If you were to pick a coach from SL - Rowley would be the obvious choice. No way the players would get away with performances like those they are turning out for Smith.

Others I like Briers definitely with an assistant such as Lingard from Batley. NRL - Ryan Carr would be my choice.

Smith has much to prove - given its touch and go whether he will be a success I would want minimal input from him in respect of player recruitment

If we believe Craig Harrison then Rohan has had nothing to do with the recruitment up to now.

He probably doesn't have much to do with negotiations, but he'll definitely taking a lead role in player ID

If they have no skin in the game for next season then it doesn't matter who the coach is if the player is that way incined and, due to injuries, almost guaranteed selection.

Short term it really feels like something has cracked, among supporters if nothing else, and Smith cannot just keep on doing what he's doing.

Personally, and I know I'll probably be shot down for it, but if I were him I'd tell both Hooley and Sinfield they're going to play the next 4 games unless they get injured or have utter mares (Hooley at KR style). Its quite simply time for a change, and picking players in proper positions. Giving these guys a game now and then leaving him out for the rest of the season, or maybe one more game just isn't going to help them develop, or show anyone if they are up to it. Myler can suck it up and sit on the bench for a few weeks, or alternate with Austin. we know what both of those can do, and more importantly what they can't.

I'd also tell Handley (if he's pushing for it) that the only way he'll play full back again is if there are injuries, and rejig the threequarters - get Martin out of there for starters and move Macdonald across if needs be. He can play centre, and we need more attacking threat than he can offer on the wing. Basically stop the 'best players regardless of position' stuff and try to get as close as we can to players in the positions they are currently best suited to.

The other thing he should do is just cut the nonsense out of the gameplan. Focus on position, possession and defence. Not passive defence, but aggressive, stop the yardage defence. Its RL 101. If some of our forwards aren't up to that then they shouldn't be in the team.

Not sure what else he can do otherwise. There's very little chance of a run like last year, this season is done. It all has to be about trying to get some decent performances out of the team for the rest of the year and ideally find out if some of these squad players are actually any good.

If there are seriously any players who are messing about because they are leaving, then just don't pick them. It would only weaken the team on paper, not in reality.

I don't know if this is the case, but the body language and effort would suggest something like it. I agree that they'd be no loss on the field however.

There is no way Lisone,Hooley or MacDonald would be at Leeds without Smith's input - he has coached all these players in the past.

So so sick of this. Here’s a tip, if someone’s a good coach, you’re aren’t left wondering. They’re able to polish a turd.

It’s not “we need to wait until it’s his own team”, its “look what he’s doing with these players, imagine what he’ll be able to do with his own ones”.

Smith isn’t the guy. We are crap under him because he’s not a very good coach.

Wire were in the same position last season. What if they had taken the same line with Powell? I'm not saying things will work out in the same way, no-one could possibly know that. What if it does, though? But what is clear is that if we pull the trigger now, we are right back to where we started and still no guarantee of any improvement. Ultimately the powers that be need to decide.

Trajectory. Chart a graph of the respective teams’ form under their coaches. Wire’s was basically a straight line of nothingness last season, upturn this season. Smith’s rose rapidly last season, but has dropped (and is droppING) rapidly this season despite having a pre-season and recruitment.

If Powell was as inexperienced as Smith, had a short-term upturn then preseason and proceeded to produce what they did last season I imagine wire would have gotten rid.

Also, powell’s team were just playing poorly, they weren’t using flawed tactics. Smiths ideology is flawed.

If progress in professional sport was always linear I'd fully agree, but it's not. RS is inexperienced at this level, that is true, but that doesn't negate a reasonable policy of giving him the mandate to clear the decks and recruit if the board some 12 months or so ago thought he was the right choice. Will it workout? No guarantees, of course, that goes without saying, but what's guaranteed is that calling time now means it definitely won't. The question for the decision makers is do they have faith in their choice of head coach or not? It's a question to which the answer has ramifications way past RS's future.

They apparently gave him 5 years. So think that answers that one…..

since when do contracts mean anything? pardew had a way longer one at Newcastle and got sacked. you only get one years salary as compensation no matter how long you have.
the question is do you trust him to oversee a major recruitment drive and take the club forward.
the answer at the moment is a resounding no

New coach

New tactics

A captain

Half backs

That’s what we need

Simples

Anyone read Smiths response to the captain question in the YEP? The man talks in riddles… bet the players are confused as hell. We need one strong capt on the field with a vice capt

Have you not realised that hes a certain way with the media since hes been he, doesn't want to give too much away etc, imagine hes completely different with the team.

That isn't true at all.
If someone has a contract for 3 years and you want to end it they are entitled to the money unless you can prove breach of contract.
Many agree to a payoff to just go but they don't have to.

Of course you can just sack them and stop paying them but they can just take you to court for the money.

Yeah i get that but what he's said about the Capt situation is actually what he is doing on the field with the team... its muddled and wishy washy and it's not working.