[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 10:03 am  

Im not pleased that were going through another coach, far from it. I honestly wanted RS to work out after the miracle run to the GF I really thought we'd unearthed a real gem of a coach who played a fantastic brand of rugby league. After 2 and a bit years of RS gimmick laden tripe its obvious that he hasnt anything resembling a plan B and the miracle run to the GF was unfortunately just that, a miracle. Thats why I want change.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 10:23 am  

christopher wrote:

I think this means RS will announce he is leaving as the new role kind of changes his role and what he was brought in to do, I think its a way of keeping face for both RS and GH

Could well be. Whatever most on here say, my belief is that RS has not had the best of luck since joining, and unfortunately given the state of us when he came in, he just hasn't got the wiggle room or time to show whatever it is that he can do.

He's compounded that with some errors of judgement in signings here and there - or had his hands tied by GH who knows. Croft and Ackers have improved us, but beyond that nobody has really added significantly to the mix in truth.

It's all very frustrating but it is what it is, and the club needs to find a way to move forwards. I'm still not convinced RS is as bad a coach as most on here make out, he does have a long track record in coaching, just not at this level. Sometimes it's just not the right mix and maybe this is one of those times. The next few games and new Sporting Director will be very illuminating.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 10:25 am  

Hetherington has been trying to give this role away for years. Agar would have been ideal for it (and still would tbh) but that plan got messed up, as did the disastrous learning on the job attempt by Sinfield.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 10:56 am  

MjM wrote:

Hetherington has been trying to give this role away for years. Agar would have been ideal for it (and still would tbh) but that plan got messed up, as did the disastrous learning on the job attempt by Sinfield.

Agree - not sure on Agar - not sure he is dynamic enough for whet we need right now. Sinfield was in way above his skill set at the time.

The one thing nobody wants is JJB to get the role - hopefully the board are not that daft

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 2:12 pm  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

Agree - not sure on Agar - not sure he is dynamic enough for whet we need right now. Sinfield was in way above his skill set at the time.

The one thing nobody wants is JJB to get the role - hopefully the board are not that daft

Agreed. He's the wrong personality for this job, you need someone with attention to detail and who can really manage the numbers as well as the personalities.

I'm hoping we bring in an Aussie to be honest. Someone with some NRL pedigree here could be useful - especially as we need to get way better at who we bring in from overseas if we're going to challenge again. Those OS quota spots are vital to get right, and generally we just haven't. Literally Prior and Martin are the only ones I think worked, and Prior went on 18 months too long.

Wasn't Matt Adamson touting a bit recently? Not sure he has the right skillset either TBH.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 2:33 pm  

christopher wrote:

I think this means RS will announce he is leaving as the new role kind of changes his role and what he was brought in to do, I think its a way of keeping face for both RS and GH

Have just listened to the pre match press conference and it does not sound like Smith is going to resign.

He’s certainly putting on a brave face if he is.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 2:44 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Could well be. Whatever most on here say, my belief is that RS has not had the best of luck since joining, and unfortunately given the state of us when he came in, he just hasn't got the wiggle room or time to show whatever it is that he can do.

He's compounded that with some errors of judgement in signings here and there - or had his hands tied by GH who knows. Croft and Ackers have improved us, but beyond that nobody has really added significantly to the mix in truth.

It's all very frustrating but it is what it is, and the club needs to find a way to move forwards. I'm still not convinced RS is as bad a coach as most on here make out, he does have a long track record in coaching, just not at this level. Sometimes it's just not the right mix and maybe this is one of those times. The next few games and new Sporting Director will be very illuminating.

I think Smith has had some bad luck with bad injuries to the likes of Simpson and Gannon’s HIA, however he has been hit harder by our poor recruitment. As you said earlier Jim, was Smith or GH making the decisions?

Start of 2023, we brought in Hooley, Olpherts, Nene and Roberts in the backs. 3 have gone with people saying Roberts is likely to leave at end of this year. We kept Fusitua and are paying Olpherts to play for wakey which puts you in a weak place when Lumb does his hamstring.

And of course our weakness at prop and losing Walters.

I know you think errors are the key, I won’t go on about style of play as I think we all have our own views

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 2:48 pm  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

Have just listened to the pre match press conference and it does not sound like Smith is going to resign.

He’s certainly putting on a brave face if he is.

Yes he seemed more cheerful and happier in the press video than for weeks.
He has either been given the full backing by GH or he has a great poker face.
It would be interesting if the new Sporting Director said he should go and GH refused.

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 3:06 pm  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

Have just listened to the pre match press conference and it does not sound like Smith is going to resign.

He’s certainly putting on a brave face if he is.

Yep I was wrong on that one!

He actually sounded like he would love a DOR to take some of the stuff off his desk TBH

Re: Rhino’s Sporting Director Announcement : Fri May 31, 2024 3:34 pm  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

I think Smith has had some bad luck with bad injuries to the likes of Simpson and Gannon’s HIA, however he has been hit harder by our poor recruitment. As you said earlier Jim, was Smith or GH making the decisions?

Start of 2023, we brought in Hooley, Olpherts, Nene and Roberts in the backs. 3 have gone with people saying Roberts is likely to leave at end of this year. We kept Fusitua and are paying Olpherts to play for wakey which puts you in a weak place when Lumb does his hamstring.

And of course our weakness at prop and losing Walters.

I know you think errors are the key, I won’t go on about style of play as I think we all have our own views

Yeah I think it's a case of emphasis on those aspects rather than disagreeing that either has a part to play. I just don't think our stats or style can flourish with the amount of individual errors we're making as I've said... but then RS has recruited or selected those players and he can't just wash his hands of that either.

We have made a hell of a lot of project signings (Hudson, Ruan, Roberts etc) and none of them have paid off yet, if they ever do. The common theme here is "bargain basement" - we are trying to find diamonds in the rough, or assume that our magical environment will turn average players into great ones, or we assume that players with long histories of injury will come good for us. This is where I see the hand of GH in these decisions, but I could be wrong.

For me you have to get a balance of projects/punts, but you can't base your entire strategy on high risk signings. Even Miller at FB was a risky call. I think once he settled and we learn how to use him, he'll be a good player for us but he's also been a liability at times we couldn't afford.