Agree Batley

Until Smith gets a free shot with the OQ and frankly ridiculous money we spent on both Tetevano and Sezer's wages on the assumption they are both Marquee players - he won't have had a chance. He got us to the GF last year - his talents are clearly there.

It is very difficult to make a poor side play well when you inherit another coaches ideas and infrastructure.

The flip side is that Saints have a decent squad and its very easy to roll on success when the bones of the squad are there 1, 6, 7 and 9.

Leeds got it badly wrong with Dwyer (we havent had a proper hooker since Buderus), Sezer (made of glass), Tetvano and Fusitu'a (see Sezer).

It boils down to poor recruitment.

eg we need a centre, We have Newman but he's been really unlucky. Thats it, thats the only proper centre we have.

Wigan managed to pick up Wardle AND King late last season. Why weren't Leeds all over that?

We have half backs and wingers at full back. Back rowers in the centres. Back rowers at stand off. Loose forwards at hooker.

We all know Smith is patching holes - but the club need to look at how those holes have been created.

I was speaking to my Wakey mate this morning. They are now on 2 point chasing Cas. Cas have 6 points - 4 are from playing Leeds.


2024 needs to be a blanks slate.

If Leeds has signed Luke Brooks, NOW is a good time to get that announced.

he is rubbish and I don't trust him whatsoever with any cap money. get rid now

You can't just blame recruitment for the recent performances, Smith is simply not getting a tune out of the squad this season which is bizarre considering how it went for him last season. He's lost control somewhere and i think there is an unhappy camp. We should be good enough to be close the playoffs if not in the top 6 but we look like relegation candidates. It's a good job we have points on the board.

However, you do have a very well made point about recruitment and that is doing longer term damage imo. Covid losses compounded years of poor recruitment too imo but that needs to change for next season, we have a massive few months ahead and need to get it right if we are ever to reach the standards of where we should be.

We let Dwyer and Hardaker go and back filled with championship players. To lose to Wakey after promising signs against the Pie eatees away, clearly shows the BIG TROUBLE we are in.
Last month 2 players refused new improved contracts, just goes to show we continue to go backwards

I get the recruitment for the future. What I don't get is following a Grand Final appearance, why the square peg round holes policy came in right from pre season with a largely full squad. I think Smith was just trying to show how clever he is... and frankly he isn't.

Hetherington won't go. He needs to sack Smith and look at 2024 overseas recruitment now, before we're left with the scraps again.

This is the best run club in SL - off the field. The rugby side of the business is showing some signs of wear and tear and needs a radical overhaul from top to bottom.

If Smith is staying - I can see the positives - then we have to get away from this "he needs his own team" - that will take years and what happens if that doesn't work? He certainly wont have his own team next season so how do you judge his performance?

This club needs a DOR who has a role of recruitment across the board playing and coaching.
1. They decide the overall rugby structure - youth development needs a significant overhaul with some fresh faces and new voices.
2. They appoint the coaches - its obvious Smith needs some more experience around him
3. Medical and conditioning is also part of this remit - the number of soft tissue injuries suggests this more than bad luck - its careless.
4. They choose the players - the coach has an input but the decision is theirs - otherwise you spend years unravelling what the previous coach has done - as we see now.
5. They work with the coaches to get continuity throughout the club so transition up the scale is easier for young players e.g. Saints.
6. Most importantly of all the set the standards and the culture expected through the rugby side of the club.

GH does what he does best run the operational side of the club about which there can be no issues - it is the best run club in any form of rugby in the northern hemisphere.

Sorry Homer, but Dwyer is utterly hopeless. No way would we be better with him.

david, great post and 99% correct.
but there are no positives to keeping smith.
he is a poor coach who refuses, or simply can't, change his ways.
the rest I agree with

The only excuse that I’d perhaps gives smith in terms or recruitment is that if a lot of the quota and higher paid/last year contract players have been told they can go it could be a downing of tools similar to warrington last year.

Which ever way we go is going to take some cahones. To stick with Smith wen everyone wants him gone or to get rid when he did so well last year.

Any truth to John Kear coming in on a consultation contract?

Might help steady the ship and offer some guidance to Smith, should they not do the right thing and move him on.

kear is yesterdays man but he'd put some backbone into the team. we might actually have a gameplan too

Only asking Tad, heard it from a few folk now.

no I wasn't criticising pal

John Kear?! Funny if it happends from a Saints pov, but if I were a Leeds fan I'd wonder what on earth is going on.