Whenever I hear Ian Watson being interviewed, it reminds me so much of Paul Cullen. But he is an excellent coach.

Watson’s recent record is hard to criticise but would imagine Agar is in post at least for the season 2021.

Richard Agar was Thrown in at the deep end a year ago and look how much we have improved since so I cannot understand why he should not be given credit for what he has done. A Challenge Cup win that only a few months ago seemed unlikely. Credit also Kev for the way he along with Richard have changed not only the team but also the culture at this great club. One or two key signings And a few of the young ones turning promise into reality and we will be back up in the top 2/3 teams and winning trophies again.
So can we have praise not criticism from everyone and make 2021 the year of the Rhino

I really don’t like this - there’s only 2 major trophies available each year, and we’ve just won one of them - that’s a fantastic achievement in any year, particularly coming from where we were a little over 12 months ago.

I was very much against Agar joining our club, but in his time in the top job, our younger players in particular are improving, the team spirit is miles ahead of where it was, the signings have been better (maybe not as a result of him) and have settled better (definitely him), the rugby is better to watch, we’re competing every week and we’ve just won a major trophy! Coming from relegation threatened, that is an immense improvement from where the whole club was when he took charge.

Swallow your pride and give the bloke, the players and the wider club the credit they deserve.

For all you say Saints, Wigan, Wire and Catalans are ahead of us, none of those have got their name on a trophy yet this year, we have! Their fans would all rather win the cup than get knocked out when they did....

Some people seemingly never tire of being proven wrong by this wonderful club of ours.

There are undoubtedly sides who are better than us at this minute in time. For me the big question is how big is the gulf? For me we aren't that far off and given where we were last year I'm very positive.

Well said Sir!

Just to widen out the scope for argument I think credit needs to go to Kev Sinfield too. I haven't agreed with everything he's done, but I do think he has a plan and some of the recent signings have been very good indeed. Ava, Martin and Prior are very astute additions.

The youth system at Leeds looks like the best in the country again, and the pathways look there for these lads (although I was disappointed for Smith and Holroyd on Saturday - even though Alex Sutcliffe was brought in and did a good job).

Another shout out to JJB, who I think is perfect for the back-office "club man".

Gale yes
Lui yes
Mellor yes
Ava yes
Martin yes
Prior yes
Leeming yes.

I get the feeling the players like him, they certainly look a lot happier squad these days.

For my money, Agar has earned the right to be our first team coach. As many have said the squad has improved and looks more cohesive this year. The man has coached the team to our first trophy since 2017 and the squad seem to hold him in high regard.

Superb post. Well said

Agar deserves two year contract after this season.
Very good coach. I could see that when he nearly took Wakey to a grand final. They were a dropped pass away from giving us a huge scare in playoffs one year.
Was it 2011?

I think you mean 2012, which was the first playoff game, i think classing that as nearly taking them to a grand final is generous.

Fair point, but they were pretty good that year under Agar weren't they?
Probably on sjoe string budget too...

Yeah they did well. Agar is an interesting proposition, I think his first full head coaching gig was circa 2008 in super league. With players, sometimes they are slow developers, like Gale. But with a coach, it often feels like if they aren't noticeably successful in their first 1 or 2 jobs it's bye bye.

I like the fact we've gone our own way by giving agar the gig, I guess it was circumstantial rather than planned. But he must have built up alot of knowledge and improved himself over the years, and now we are reaping some of that.

The kind of accepted route, for a club wanting to compete for trophies, is that the coach must have well exceeded expectations if they've been at a lower club, or have won something before at a top club. The exception being these hot shot assistants from the NRL.

Ian watson prime example. 'Look at how well he's done at salford, just imagine what he could do at a top club'. Only a matter of time before a top club like Wigan or warrington pounce.

That's not to say it's the wrong decision, it's just an example of the accepted route when trophy chasing team needs new coach.