Which is why the forward pack is concerning me as this is an area that arguably is 'Smiths' with the players he wants, and they're inconsistent too.

We should be trying to get Tetavano off the books on medical grounds and freeing up a quota spot to bring an NRL forward in.

With Leeming going and no replacement brought in, I'm starting to wonder whether Smith is a bit of stubborn, purist coach who wants to use the players he's got without bringing anyone new in (a bit like the downfall of Bielsa at LUFC).

The problem is that I think his notion of success is that if it's a 'hard-fought contest' that's close in score, it's good enough even when we lose. Under Smith though it's amazing when we win, but when we lose the standard and style of rugby is so utterly garbage to watch.

I dont think its that easy, Smith has said he may play again this season, and its a bit of a s"hitty thing to do.

Warrington have been looking for an NRL forward for months and they haven't been successful, panic buying is what got us in a salary cap mess in the first place.

Tetevano will I'm sure be paid off for the rest of the year.

We shouldn't be panic buying,we have known for l9ng enough what's needed and where. So either we have them but can't get them in early/ until next season or RS and GH have made some big errors.

Isn’t the plan to have him back playing by seasons end? Or have I missed something?

Plus isnt the signing deadline this week?

Whether they're trying to get him back to match fitness or not is obviously a medical issue firstly, but secondly whether they feel we've missed him in the first place. I'd say I don't think we'll notice much difference if he does return.

He will want game time to show he can do it fir his next club.
Wether Leeds want to risk it will be another matter.

I'm sure we will see him once there is nothing to play for

I don't think he'll be doing us any favors after he had to pay his own medical bills also think Austin sh#t in his own bed going public about it with online auction etc to help pay for it.

Wasn't that debunked ?

Massive rebuild needed it will be 2025-26 before we can be a force. Its the 80’s again I’m afraid, I wouldn’t play any players who are leaving next season again, Likes of Sezar Bentley have been up there with worst signing ever.

I'll say it every week, it's never changing until the people at the top making the decisions change. It's impossible to outrun that many terrible decisions. Every squad they build is next years deadwood that we need to try get rid of and adds two more years onto our "transition period". That term needs to be changed because it's just not true anymore, we're not in a transition we're just a terribly run club being terrible.

We will never compete again with the same people picking our players and manager.

Yes. Hetherington needs to stop making any rugby decisions. Now. Every rugby decision he makes turns to sh*t.

no no no. its a brilliantly run club, brilliantly coached.
according to some

or have I got it wrong again?????

Smith is now mostly in charge of identifying who to sign, that much has become clear.

But will/can we sign the players he asks for ?

and do you trust him? Will he sign players for a system that everyone but him can see doesn't work?

My god.

Who knows,hopefully he does xD

You might jest but I bet if RS wants passive defenders and short kicks or none that's easy to find

Are Lisone or McDonnell passive defenders?

He got Olpherts who would be the difference according to him how did that turn out? The guy is a charlatan.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I am finding the whole thing with Smith a bit conflicting now, for one main reason. He’s clearly a good ‘coach.’ It seems to me a lot of individuals in the squad, especially the younger end have improved under him. The likes of Walters, Holroyd, McDonnell, O’Conner, Johnson and even Roberts, who looked nowhere near first team level to start the year have all improved as individuals.

What I’m maybe starting to question is whether he’s ‘head coach’ material, certainly with the current level of support. He just can’t seem to pull us together as a team consistently. Yes some of that’s also falls on the inconsistent individuals we have in the squad.

I actually think he could do with a really strong second in command with some head coach experience.

That’s a good point I think Craig Lingard from Batley would be great in that role, he’s gone to Cas though I think