My prediction - Rohan Smith.

I know it’s only pre-season, but losing 3 from 4 does not bode well in any context. I think the squad is weaker than the one that started last season, and there are already injuries. Coupled with the bizarre stance on the captain, it doesn’t feel good.

With the fixtures that start the season it leads to think it will be a very slow start, one that Leeds will not recover from.

Leeds got the grand final last season off the back off some last gasp smash-and-grab wins, but it was a false picture. They weren’t, and aren’t really a grand final team.

This is not to criticize. I like some of the players, and Smith. Just a cold, hard assessment of how I see things.

*prepares for abuse*.

Deary me.

I'll go McNamara. Damp squib finish last year, Tonkin's another year older, Micky Mac still plodding around at dummy. He's a gonner.

No abuse. Just pity.

Adrian Lam

Rohan Smith.

Unless the season becomes a disaster I can’t see Smith getting sacked.
Flex wheeler has some fair points for mine, it was touch and go getting to GF. If Hardaker does not make the break late on v cas, we don’t make the play offs, but he did and we won 2 very difficult away play off games to get there. I don’t think we are close to Saints and Wigan’s ’ back line pace will be hard to hold but most of the rest are fairly even.

I do wonder if Smith has made recruitment errors going for potential and more numbers rather than proven quality like Zak, however even if he has I’d stick with him and let him try to improve players with his coaching and if possible go for more quality next year when he will have a lot more big decisions on the squad.
Within reason I’d stick with Smith for the long term.

To answer the question, Powell needs a good start or he will be under a heap of pressure.

Good god!!
We bring in a young coach half way through a season where we are in complete turmoil.
He turns things round quickly and takes us to the grand final.
He clears out many of the players that most have been calling out as not good enough for years, and brings in some desperately needed big forwards and some promising young players.
And he's rewarded with a dedicated forum thread declaring that he will be the first coach to get sacked before the competition even starts.
I really do despair at times....

Flex has already chucked his toys out and said he won't be watching anyway, so meh.

There seems to be a lot of uncertainty about this season, which is fair enough. There are definitely questions about how we'll play, and how other teams react. I can't see us challenging Sts any better than the GF last year, but hopefully we'll have a better forward platform to try to play off. The major question mark for me isn't the centres if Newman and MacDonald are fit, but the halfbacks. At least we're likely to be entertaining under Smith - something that can't be said for long periods under McDermott and then Agar.

I'm not so sure about Saints for this year. Lets see how well Wellens fairs when we get down to the buisiness end of the season

Powell survived last year on the back of ' wait till I get my own players. No I dont think it will ge him nor Rohan Smith

Couldn’t agree more Simmo .
The blokes great , younger and bigger and better squad.
Looking at championship players ,not players looking for last pay cheque .