Quote: Richie "A Grand Final loss, a CC win and a playoff exit with a home defeat to Cas, and a team left in no state to improve.
You rate that ahead of the achievements of Smith and McClennan?'"
I didn't say he was the highest-achieving Leeds coach. But taking a team and a club that had underperformed for 20 years, with what was by no means its best squad in those years, and turning them into a formidable force was in ways more impressive than coaching the most impressive group of club-trained players (few of whom were signed or debuted under Smith's watch) to GF victory. Do you think Murray would have won Grand Finals if he'd been in charge of Leeds from 2004?
And I'm not sure he left the team in no state to improve: Dean Lance and GH screwed up. Bell & Barnhill for Godden & Glanville. Lawford for Newton. And then there was Lance's man-management. There are parallels today.
Add to that Murray's coaching at Illawarra, Roosters and N Qld, and Smith's record with GB then I'd say yes, in my opinion Murray is the better coach.