I don’t want everything now, I just want to see us playing a style of rugby that can have consistently good results if played to the right standard, rather than basketball on a rugby pitch. Smith’s playing style would need the World XIII to be successful, never mind the players we currently have at Leeds. He’s not going to be successful because he’s so wedded to this style of rugby he can’t see or accept that the current (or upcoming) playing squad will ever be able to play it to a high enough level consistently to win anything.
You can't rebuild an entire team in two years in a salary capped sport, it will take years to sort out the mess we're in. The only way to be at the top is through academy players (as proved by Leeds formerly, and Saints + Wigan now) and then the purchased players are the icing on the cake. Sangare, McDonnell, Holdroyd, Gannon, Hudson & TNW could be a great pack, but only if they live up to their potential in 3 years time. Can't have everything now, just doesn't work like that.
You said we wont win anything until we replace most of our forward pack
You then said "Smith isnt perfect, but he is rebuilding the team and that will take time"
Im pointing out that Smith has chosen "most of our forward pack" you clearly dont rate from last night, to be part of his rebuild, by either bringing them to the club or re- signing them to longer deals to stay at the club.
By that logic, you must think he's doing a terrible job of the rebuild.
You said we wont win anything until we replace most of our forward pack
You then said "Smith isnt perfect, but he is rebuilding the team and that will take time"
Im pointing out that Smith has chosen "most of our forward pack" you clearly dont rate from last night, to be part of his rebuild, by either bringing them to the club or re- signing them to longer deals to stay at the club.
By that logic, you must think he's doing a terrible job of the rebuild.
I understand what you're saying and I probably explained my point poorly. The players we have signed are fine for the point we are at, but they aren't the long term solution and I doubt Smith sees them that way. You have to sign some players/re-sign players that you might not want because you literally need a team on the field. The signings we have made, the length of those contracts and the age of them are a telling sign of where they fit into the team. I would expect the backline to stay pretty consistent for a few years, with a view to getting some of our 'project' props up to a very high standard and then splashing out on one, maybe two to top that off depending on development.
I don't believe we will be 'successful' until 2026 when our bulk of players are in the 26-30 range, with a view to hopefully continuing that success in the years following with the likes of Gannon, Sinfield, TNW etc.
Unless he changes the style of play, and frankly I suspect the culture to one which does not accept the level of mistakes we make, we won’t even be challenging in 2026 either. We have zero intensity with one without the ball, we are the RL equivalent of the latter years of Alex Higgins, who could occasionally pull off an incredible shot, but would lose more often than he won and would also never stop moaning.
Unless he changes the style of play, and frankly I suspect the culture to one which does not accept the level of mistakes we make, we won’t even be challenging in 2026 either. We have zero intensity with one without the ball, we are the RL equivalent of the latter years of Alex Higgins, who could occasionally pull off an incredible shot, but would lose more often than he won and would also never stop moaning.
He also headbutted a tournament official. Only a matter of time before Rohan does the same to Kendall, I reckon.
I said this time last year Smith wasn’t it based on how we started the season after the upsurge back-end of 2022. We are going nowhere under Smith, I will die on that hill.
If we play really poorly and lose on Thursday, then my mind will be made up on Smith. He doesn't have the capability to adequately coach a team to consistent results and performances.
But the club won't knee jerk. I actually think he will stay until the end of the season. But I do think the club will make up it's mind after 12 games and if we are bottom half, GH will be planning for a change for next season.
One of my questions is will the journos pick up on the feeling amongst the fans and write about it? That’s really the catalyst for change, when the word starts spreading. Otherwise it’s just some fans moaning on a forum.
One of my questions is will the journos pick up on the feeling amongst the fans and write about it? That’s really the catalyst for change, when the word starts spreading. Otherwise it’s just some fans moaning on a forum.
Will become obvious if attendances are as poor as the CC game. Fans will eventually start booing team off etc if it gets much worse…..
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