Hopefully Lowes stays with Carnegie

If Tony Smith parts ways with Warrington what would peoples views be on a return to Headingley? Looking what is out there at the minute regards coaching options i don't think it would be a bad move, I mean, Smith has been at Wire 2 years longer than McDermott has spent with us so i don't think he has become a bad coach all of a sudden, just a similar case of he has run his race at that club. 8 years is a very long time at one club as a coach in RL.

I'd prefer a fresh face rather than someone from the past. Unless the ghost if Xmas past was Powell

I would certainly want Powell but it is extremely unlikely we get him this season at least but we should be trying imo.

He's failed to really rebuild Warrington post Briers, and has been given a war chest only Salford could probably match to do it. I'd be reluctant to have him back as I think we need a coach who can rebuild the team, and he's not shown he can really do that in the last 5 years at least.

Smith or McDermott? Smith in a heartbeat. When Smith took over Warrington from Lowes they were in a poor way, he made them competitive before the season was out, winning their first Challenge Cup in 35 years and has kept them up there ever since.

I don't expect he'll become available or that Leeds would go there even if he did.

Meanwhile, in Warrington...

rlSmith Outrl

Strangely familiar reading.

Warrington have major problems in the backs, I don't think any of the 3/4s would get into our team, and despite Gidley being a good leader, he seems to be something of a choker when it really matters. They're pack without Hill is lightweight, and it's slow without Currie. They have halves that would walk into our team, but they have no platform from the pack, and no pace or strike in backline to utilise.

Smith has gotten them into positions to win things but the players have not managed to take the chances. A couple of challenge cups a few years back is not a big reward really. They lost too many big games in the past because they give the opposition a chance - they make too many mistakes. At Leeds he had a squad that was smart enough to play open, attacking rugby during the regular season and then shut up shop and play mistake free rugby and converting all their chances to points. I don't think he's been able to recreate that at Warrington (if he was trying - I don't know). But they were rubbish when he took over from Lowes and they have been consistent since he took over. Always in with a shout, just not getting the result in the big game.

Even at Leeds barring the 2004 GF Smith's sides have a poor record in big games when it's a tight score line. His 2007 GF win and CC wins against us came when they could race into a big lead. He's had some very easy cup runs at Warrington and some very easy semi finals (and still managed to lose a few when strong favourite). Last years two finals show he still has this problem.

Whilst he's turned them into contenders (they should be with the squads he's had) you'd have to consider it a failure if he leaves Warrington having never won a GF with the money spent and players bought in his time there.

Some very good points re-Smiths tenure both here & at Wire but when all is said and done id still take him back on an intial 2 &1/2yr deal with it getting reviewed in 18mths.
I doubt Wire will sack him anyway tbf.

Wigan looked good last - despite all their injuries. There depth of youngsters is a testament to the quality of recruitment and coaching.

Their depth of younsterds is a testament to the quality of their development.