Smith is trying to clean house and that means wiping out all that 'Leeds DNA' nonsense and harking back to recent players as some kind of magic wand. The club had got lazy and complacent right across the board, starting with coaching and fitness and including a hopeless player contracting strategy (if there even was one).

GH deserves every bit of criticism for letting the club fall in a heap post 2015, but at least he's seemingly done a good job in picking Smith and now backing him, at least in terms of staff.

Agree completely. It happens in football too when coaches are hired for nonsense reasons like "knowing the club". Someone previously playing for your club is completely irrelevant if they aren't actually good coaches. Sentimental appointments are so annoying.

It doesn’t surprise me with Long, most would agree, failed to live up to the hype as an uber attacking coach.

Possibly a step up for Chev, I do believe they knew each other from the Bulls days or possibly one of his old assistant coaches front Oz.
I do think in the past there have been too many assistant coaches but RS seems more hands on spot might be a slimmed down team.

He was part of the England setup at the 2008 world cup, so I expect Tony Smith rates him.

Given the reasons he’s moving from Salford, I for one wouldn’t be surprised if Danny Orr is part of the first team set up next season. Straight swap for Long.

I would be happy with that and a better choice than Danny Ward imo.

I'd rather Smith brings in someone from Australia that he knows. Its the home of the best coaches as well as the best players.

Chev Walker new assistant according to Leeds Live. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 142475.amp

Chev Walker new assistant according to Leeds Live. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 142475.amp

I`m not sure about this appointment of Walker.
Is it down to his ability or his friendship with Smith.
Let`s hope we don`t have another debacle when Sinfield gave jobs to his mates and extended contracts to other favourites when clearly it wasn`t based on their skill set.
On the other hand Walker might be a great coach and Smith has made the right decision.

I would have been very sceptical at the start of the year, but facts are facts - the Academy have just won the championship for the first time in years. Got to give him credit for that.

Don`t get me wrong I`m sure Smith knows what he`s doing getting rid of Long and replacing him with another of the golden generation.
And having someone in there you know has your back and you can trust is always a good thing.
Apart form him winning the GF with the Academy he`s not been well thought of before that.
Maybe he`s developed now as Smith certainly sees something in him.
Saying that didn`t he get rid of Long before Walkers team won the GF?

I wonder who'll replace Walker as academy coach

RS doesn't come across as someone who would give his mate a job if he wasn't good enough, and it risks putting the club back. Smith works with Chev on a daily basis, knows his approach to the game, knows his philosophy and sees how he interacts with the players. I have no idea on any of these, so aren't passing judgement. We'll know if it's a good appointment during the season. But good luck to Chev, he's a great bloke and he's done a great job winning the Academy title this season

Tempting as it is to try to guess the underpinning philosophy and strategy of the club's signings and appointments, maybe the overiding concern is to do things as cheaply as possible?