The Race For Tony Smith : Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:14 am  

One of the rumours floating around last season was that Lowes' 12-month appointment would take him to the end of this year when Tony Smith would become available so that if he didn't deliver there was a ready made replacement waiting in the wings.

Similarly though Brian Noble's contract expires at the end of this season and with both him and Lowes in the front line for getting fired where do you think Smith will go?

Can Leneghan afford to pay Smith the bucks that Warrington could probably throw at him? Would Smith be prepared to take the chance with working with a smaller group of youngsters at Warrington where expectations would be lower, less pressure and with players like Matt King instead of Cameron Phelps?

Will his availability mean that Lowes or Noble will be coaching all season long irrespective of results?

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:22 am  

It could be Deja Vu for the wigoons, they will start there usually end of season surge of wins get beat in the play offs. Lenegan and Noble will tell the fans the future is looking good for next season and they go through the whole process again.
Lowes is probably under pressure the most but the wire are never quick to fire there coach on the same scale as the Wigoons.
But my gut feeeling is that Smith would opt for the wire because theres something not quite right to how the wigoons are running or ruining the club.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:10 pm  

I reckon Smith will go to which ever club has the better youth set up.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:12 pm  

Isn't John Bastian at Wire?

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:18 pm  

Looking at Wigan's roster I'd say that - provided its developed properly (and there's little evidence that it will be at the moment) Wigan are a minimum of five years away from being serious trophy contenders.

Wayne Bennett himself couldn't shave down that figure.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:35 pm  

Glenn Morangie wrote:

Isn't John Bastian at Wire?

Yeah he is

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:04 pm  

Wigan or Warrington mmmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder which he would choose!

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:12 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Looking at Wigan's roster I'd say that - provided its developed properly (and there's little evidence that it will be at the moment) Wigan are a minimum of five years away from being serious trophy contenders.

Wayne Bennett himself couldn't shave down that figure.

Your probably right mate but Wigan have been best of the rest for 2 years in a row (having reach final eliminators) - which probably says a lot more about the poor standard of SL at the moment rather than the quality of Wigan.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:00 pm  

gulfcoast_highwayman wrote:

I reckon Smith will go to which ever club has the better youth set up.

What if one side offer him £30k per year more?

: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:06 am  

If a talentless, skill less hack of a coach like Tony Smith is being head hunter by clubs....then the game in England is dead.

I mean really.....this is a guy that has Leeds, with all their money....and made glaring, terrible mistakes, even when they managed to win in spite of him.

He takes over England and they perform worse than anyone can ever remember.


And he is the top guy in England?


Just go watch union. You're all wasting your time here.