I'm sure the Saints game took a lot out of the players and could be a reason for a flat performance the week after or even 2 weeks if we are been generous. But the truth is we have been a shambles of a team pretty much all season, even when near full strength. No amount of excuses regarding injuries etc can account for some of the inept performances we have put in this season. Ultimately Smith takes responsibility for that.

The thing that annoys me is smiths unwillingness to adapt, we've seen Handley at fullback in the cas game and he was horrendous, why do we persist to try again? So smith can step back and say look I revolutionized the game? Johnson can play halfback (and has so before, at magic last year under smith) and we know myler is best at fullback, too many square pegs in round holes

Handley wants to play Full back and the club is willing to allow him to develop there. Personally, I see him as an out-and-out winger and that is where he should be playing.

If it can be objectively determined that Smith is the main problem here, of course he should be removed.

But Leeds badly need to build consistency between seasons and for this reason changing coaches with such regularity is going to keep holding us back. It only encourages a situation in which nothing short of a miracle worker will suffice - if not we have another wasted year with a load more players the next coach will not want to keep (etc).

I think the club need to be more cautious right now because the consequences of getting it wrong will be with us for too long.

Lots of people are posting on here with the conviction they are 100% right, but in reality these people are not professional sports coaches, have no idea what is going on behind the scenes at the club, and are primarily speaking to salve hurt feelings a matter of hours/days after a humiliating defeat. We need calm rational analysis of the situation not knee-jerkery.

Let's be rational
We are 6 from 15, Huddersfield were one of the fancied teams before the season kicked off and they are 5 from 14. Hull 6 from 15.
We dont need to panic and sign a player or coach to take us through the next 12 weeks. Wakey or Cas are going down, probably Wakey.
We have issues, yes. Give RS time to fix them. When we are hot we look almost unplayable, for a side that I only thought looked mid table at the begining of the year we have played some, limited fantastic rugby.
We will finish mid table as expected this year, recruitment for next year is paramount and I'm not willing to call for the coaches head for something that he hasn't done yet.

What do you mean as expected? We should be challenging the teams at the top.

Settling for mediocre rugby and coaching is unacceptable.

If Handley is so set on being a Fullback, he can go do it somewhere else as he has none of the required skills other than a bit of pace.

There was no way I expected us to be in the top 3 this year, hoped for maybe but didnt expect with the squad we have. Overachieved last year and got everyone excited that we were back, not the case.
Mid table mediocrity was expected this year and that is what we have got. Rather than consistent we are hot or cold and sometimes that is half to half, not game to game. Got to admit I didnt see that coming.

Anyone that thought we would be top 4 this year needed their bumps felt, the squad alone doesn't support that even if Wayne Bennett had been the coach. Reasonable expectation was 5-8 with a major push on 5, but we're struggling to hang on to 8th as it stands.

This year has been so bad (almost all of it) that Smith has burned through the credit he built up at the end of last season. I think this is why people are so frustrated, we've been here a hell of a lot over the last 6-7 years.

My mates reiterated he's 100% serious...he said he saw Gary Hetherington chatting to John Kear about an hour ago just up from the Rhinos shop... doesn't mean anything really.. bloody hope not!! I don't if John Kear is under contract anywhere?

Kear is head coach at Widnes

My mate told me Widnes want £250 and bag of bibs to release him but Hetherington so far will only pay £50 and 4 of Ryan Bailey’s old jockstraps. Negotiations are expected to go through the night.

Completely disagree. Think the squad we’ve had is good enough for top 4. We’ve beaten Wigan and Saints away for gods sake! For lots of reasons we’ve fallen off a cliff. Needs a long hard review, but Rohan to keep going with it and stick to his principles. Will bear fruit longer term…..

the principles that have failed time and time and time again?
fantastic

Any ideas which one's?

Tetevano, Fusitu'a, Austin and Sezer are all OOC. The first two are a laughable waste of marquee spots. Austin at least has a dig, and I'd think replacing two halfbacks would be too hard on one go, so if given a choice I'd keep him.