I don't want Smith out either. I think he's a better coach than a lot of people think, and I think he's got a plan for the team which will ultimately bear fruit.

But the speed with which people have turned on him this season isn't because we're all spoiled etc, its because we're coming off the back of an awful season, and started with a lot of hope that things would be much better due to the huge outlay on players and replacement of much of the dead wood. Sadly some of the fears that were expressed in the off season are starting to look worryingly real - lack of size in the pack, questions over Frawley's ability and Momirovski and Fusitua's fitness. We've played reasonable sides so far, but are averaging just over two tries a game, of which a couple were Handley specials which cannot be relied on every week.

On the plus side we look like we have a massive amount of improvement in us, especially if we cut out the errors and the forwards play more like the first half vs Sts last week. Hopefully our fears will turn out to be unfounded. Glass half full and all that...

All very valid points Arthur as usual and hopefully we see improved performances and start winning which will calm the Smith out frenzy. All that said I am concerned that we don't appear to have made any discernable progress under Smiths tenure in what I would consider to be the key areas that we were lacking regardless of the playing roster. The passive defence that allows opposition to dominate field position! No clear structure to our attack how long can we continue to be an Off The Cuff team.
Consistently unimaginative kicking game! These issues have been there for the last few years. We have a new squad now and they deserve time and a run of games in better conditions to see how they go before we make definitive conclusions on them.However the points I have highlighted are the coaching areas that you would have expected to have seen progress. We keep talking about bad luck and inconsistent referreeing which is true but we need to address the basics that are within our control.
I hope Rohan starts to do this but I need to see some evidence in the next few games. Its not just about finishing in the 6 its also the way you play that suggests longer term you can develop further.

His fate will rest on results Jim, regardless of how well his signings have done.
He can't turn round and blame players he hasn't signed.
Not that he will, but that can't be an excuse.
He has to show that he has the ability to coach a team to deliver performances and results, regardless of where the players came from.
But I agree, he'll be here until the end of the season.

Tell you what.
As much as we moan about the predicament at Leeds and whether Smith is up to the job.
Just look down the M62 and FC under Uncle Tony if you want cheering up a bit.....
We're nowhere near as bad as that.

It's odd that within a few weeks of arriving Smith turned around a poorly performing team and there were some nice plays in there too with the quick tip back on the inside to support etc. No sign of anything like that now, shift it wide and hope something happens and if we can't blame the ref. The next few weeks are the sorts of games we have to win to make the top 4/6. I hope the weeks off we will get now are going to be put to good use on the training field.

A good coach should have the ability to spot the weaknesses in the opposition and use tactics to exploit them.
He should also be able to change the tactics during the game if things are not going well.
Also early in the season its important to play to the weather conditions.
Not sure if Smith has shown any of that this season so far as seems to be the same style of play and tactics each week.
We have improved defensively this season but the attack had been no better than last year

Leading up to our last grand final appearance we won 11 from our last 13 matches. A superb achievement. Since then for whatever reason Smith seems to have lost his way.

It’s not enough that they are worse. More interested in us competing. Not enough to just be top 6 either. Think a club like Leeds has to aim much higher…….

Before we had kicked a ball this season, most on here were saying lets judge after 12 games, new spine has to bed in, half the side are strangers and unfair to judge too early. 5 weeks in and the knives are out. Sit back and reserve your judgment as you proposed at the season start.
Am I happy with the progress so far, of course I'm not. I'm also not going to throw anyone to the wolves this early

Spot on.

I keep on saying this but our awful season last year wasn’t just down to RS, as much as some on here can’t seem to get beyond results only. There was a lot going on behind the scenes and this season he will be judged on his own merits more.

I’m hoping to go see us at Cas this week because I think it will be a really instructive game. We need some response.

While I agree (IMO) its FAR to early for the knives to be out for RS I can see why people are frustrated with the same issues cropping up time after time, game after game.

Weve been very workmanlike few opening rounds. A lack of understanding in the playing group, new combinations, team mates etc and playing on cabbage patches hasnt exactly done us any favours but the basics for me are not being done consistently and correctly. Throwing the ball around like a hot potato is only going to get you so far.

Interesting comments.

My problem is that most matches so far this season look like 17 guys who play RL meet outside headingley 3 hours before the game and said “ do you lot fancy a kick about later?”
Isn’t it the coaches job to prepare for upcoming matches.?

You also mention Wolves in a different context.

Sam Burgess has had less than 10 games in charge and they already look like a winning side How many does Smith need? 110? 210?

Maybe if we hadnt played Saints twice, and had instead played a poor London and Hull, like Warrington have, we wouldn't be saying Smith out just yet

Perhaps those easier games would have given our new spine time to gel a little more and play a bit better in attack, and we'd be saying there's a little progress being made

So based on your analogy then Castleford need to add an extension to their scoreboard to accommodate what’s to come on Thursday evening