Quote: tvoc "Smith arrived and in his first act dropped the hitherto undropable Francis Cummins ending his mammoth run of consecutive appearances in the process. I would say that decision was merited and long overdue but I think Smith would have done it regardless just for the signal it sent out - we're all here to work, places have to be earned, no player gets selected on sentiment.'"
Yeah it did help being given a quality NRL winger in Marcus Bai, he dropped Cummings for all of 2 games and he then featured in 21 of the remaining 26 league games (even being selected on the bench a couple of times).
Quote: tvoc "Even after a fantastic season of entertaining rugby who among us (at least those old enough to remember the previous 32 years) can honestly say their heart didn't sink at the very real prospect of another potless campaign. Not under this quality coach - the demons were slain two weeks later at Old Trafford and Leeds HAVEN'T NEEDED TO DOUBT THEMSELVES SINCE.'"
Until we lost both 2005 finals, got knocked out by mid table teams in both comps 2006 and dropped back to 3rd even behind Hull, got knocked out of the 2007 CC by a mid table team and only nicked 2nd from Bradford courtesy of the Tansey Magic Weekend Try which if disallowed would've seen him have to attempt to win from 3rd, a very different prospect then for the legacy cementing 2nd GF win.
He did improve results versus Bradford. However at the end of 2004 we finished the season 15pts clear of Saints yet over the next three years they picked up 6 titles to our 2. Even Hull who we were 10pts clear of in 2004 had overhauled us by 2006.
McDermott has gotten stick for getting knocked out of the CC at the 5th Round stage this year but at least he got knocked out by a team who finished 1st in the SL table. Likewise his 2 final defeats came against the team who finished 2nd that year in the table. Smith got knocked out by the teams who finished 5th (2004 & 2005), 6th (2007) and when Hudds beat us in 2006 they placed NINTH in the table and had no big game experience under their belt at that time. McClennen got bettered by the teams finishing 1st (200icon_cool.gif 2nd(2009) and 3rd (2010).
Likewise for McDermott (and McClennen) missing out on the GF, well at least he got beat by the team that went on to win it and at least reach the Qualifying Semi to be 80 mins away from Old Trafford.
The only time in the last 11 seasons we haven't been at least 80 mins away from Old Trafford is when Smith got us knocked out by 6th placed Wire in the first week of the playoffs (again a team lacking in recent big game experience).
Saints had been so good over the previous 2 years heading into the 2007 GF (even managing the rarity of winning Sports Personality Team of the Year in 2006) and became the team the beat and fear (the role many thought we had taken hold of after 2004, but let slip so easily) that they we plenty of people doubting whether we could catch them and beat them, many thought not.
Quote: tvoc "Of course there will always be an element of looking back through rose-tinted spectacles and I'd be the first to say that Smith didn't get everything right from my point of view but did I care that night at Old Trafford .... did I f***'"
Do people care them nights McDermott has won at Old Trafford, no. But it didn't stop some of his detractors telling us "it's papering over the cracks" all the time.
Personally I don't think referring back to the 32 year gap for the title strengthens Smith's achievement. He, like any coach, should be judged for what he did in his years. For what he did in 2004, not what others failed to do in 1994, 1984 or 1974. I can understand it meaning more to fans who endured it, but weighing his achievements as a coach heavier because of others previous failures doesn't sit with me.
[/quote:1x8x7ghm]:7098.jpg
