By the time Fox arrived at Leeds, the game was moving past his coaching methods, however he did not have much to work with. Sure he would have won trophies if had arrived much earlier in his career.

Peter Smith was released after less than a handful of games IIRC. My guess is 3 appearances. Morris played more and wasn't as poor as many made him out to be. I think you're correct on who was responsible for signing those two as well. It wasn't Fox.

From memory smith got nowhere near the end of season, Leeds paid him off. I never met him but a guy I knew years ago said he was a life and soul, likeable guy and bought the pub a round the night Leeds gave him a wedge to return to aus.

I'm in the same sympathy group as you. Fox had to deal with the fallout and crap left behind mainly by Bamford, but also by Clift. I've often wondered why the Leeds board recruited Fox when they weren't ever prepared to back him with cash. His only big money signing was Carl Gibson and I recall reading somewhere that even on that occasion, Fox had to beg the board for the £50k fee.

Very disappointing IMO that immediately after Fox was sacked, loads of cash was made available again for profligate signings. If any coach was overrated and utterly crap, it was the Lech Walesa lookalike.

Thread drift here. Following william's comments on McDermott press conference. Have just had a listen and thought he spoke very well, albeit the inference was top 4 is only possible with an immediate return to form which seems highly unlikely. if we end up 8th after 23 rounds but miles behind top 4, wonder if club will try and use it as a kind of 2017 pre-season as Warrington did last year. feels like a lot of decisions to make towards back end of year. I thought this would be last time round for jjb, but he is a remarkable athlete and his effort over Easter period was outstanding. Fingers crossed he can avoid any more long term injuries and worth another year for mine.

Bob Morris made 10 appearances for Leeds (scoring one try) while Peter Smith also had 10 appearances (including 2 from the bench.) Just quickly as a few other names have appeared: Craig Izzard - 12 + 1, scoring 3 tries Steve Morris - 19, scoring 9 tries Peter Jackson - 19 + 2, scoring 6 tries Peter Tunks - 24, scoring 4 tries Mark Laurie - 27 + 1, scoring 3 tries Marty Gurr - 28, scoring 11 tries Back in the day we had threads like this on here - retro.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=415002

Bob Morris made 10 appearances for Leeds (scoring one try) while Peter Smith also had 10 appearances (including 2 from the bench.) Just quickly as a few other names have appeared: Craig Izzard - 12 + 1, scoring 3 tries Steve Morris - 19, scoring 9 tries Peter Jackson - 19 + 2, scoring 6 tries Peter Tunks - 24, scoring 4 tries Mark Laurie - 27 + 1, scoring 3 tries Marty Gurr - 28, scoring 11 tries Back in the day we had threads like this on here - retro.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=415002

That is a surprise. I didn't think Smith played anywhere near that many for Leeds. Remember him having a stinker at Cas and some of the Leeds fans booing him. The two well-timbered drunks who ran the now bulldozed off licence on St Michaels Lane even found time to boo. Must have gone a whole minute at least not dipping into their carrier bags full of booze.

Smith started at home V St Helens (Leeds lost 20-40) and then had a run of seven games (your Castleford game was the 3rd of them - YC 2nd Round Leeds lost 16-3icon_cool.gif the last of the seven was V the touring Aussies (Leeds lost 0-40.) He then missed the home loss to Bradford before returning off the bench for my best memory of his short stint a very unexpected 32-10 win at the Boulevard where Ettingshausen really announced his star quality. Smith's final Leeds game was the one which probably cost Peter Fox his job - the home capitulation to Warrington, 16-54.

Peter Smith at least played proper first grade when he signed for Leeds so you can understand why they might have thought he'd be useful. How Bob Morris ever got signed is beyond me. Add him to Ricky Lulham (Wauchope NSW), Darren Stevens and Mark Wilkes as a list of Aussie players who should never have been signed. By any club.

I don't think Bob Morris was too bad, but Peter Smith ,oh dear, made Ben Cross look like a world beater ( nice guy though, I met him in the Cherry Tree pub )

Sorry Mark I can’t let that pass. Had the Leeds board properly backed Fox financially as they did with Bamford, Reilly, Ward and Laughton they’d have won a hatful of trophies. Fox was more successful with Bradford than any of those coaches were with Leeds 1987-1994.

I rather think Fox put some senior noses out of joint in the Leeds boardroom. Probably those that signed Bob Morris and co without his knowledge. Fox was never one to suffer fools.

I always thought he was OK .... for a mortal.

Oh sorry that was Darrin

A little harsh on Ricky there IMO brought more than Steve Bleakley ever did.

Ricky Lulham - 16 + 4 (+3 NPS), 5 tries 1 cheerleader
Steve Bleakley - 10 + 1 (+1 NPS), 2 tries
Darren Stevens - 2 starts, 1 try
Mark Wilkes - 1 start, 2 goals

Are we having an "awful games I went to and now have no idea why" recollection session?

Prelim round win in one of the Cup comps away at Swinton, think it might have been Carl Gibson's debut? Midweek, freezing fog, crumbling old ground. Could barely see the pitch from the top of the banking opposite the main stand.

That's another game I was at. Sat down for that one and got a splinter from the Station Road seats despite wearing jeans.

This is a game I also attended.

It was on an evening and memorable for a PA announcement which stated something along the lines of... [i"Could the owner of the car [Registration Number *** *** *] please return to your vehicle immediately as it's just been run over by a double decker bus"[/i