I’m guessing from the mood of this board over both the coaching and on field recruitment that there seems to being an overwhelming feeling of underwhelmdom (if there is such a word).

So far I’ve yet to read anything like “excited about our prospects for next year” or “really happy with the off season recruitment this year”.

There is a distinct feeling of “wait and see” coming from most posters and TBH I’m also in that camp.

I’m really hoping the McD + Piggy Lowes partnership can do it for us but my optimism is being tested to the max.

But he was assistant at arguably the most successful team in the NRL. Albeit that the success was achieved by cheating in a massive fashion.

A bit harsh imo to describe a coach that resided over 2 Championships a WCC and a LLS whilst also getting to a CC final as an "ok" appointment.
The same could be said to describe Powells appointment as "questionable" when he also got us to a Cup Final and was the Coach who had the "clear out" of the old guard and played a role in building the squad that eventually ended over 3 decades of waiting for a Championship.

Murray and Smith improved the players individually and collectively. That's what I call coaching. Murray had a set of players who in the main (on paper) were fairly limited but he consistently had them performing to the best of their ability, he introduced the two hooker rotation, put the mongrel in the forwards and cleverly used Harris to destroy teams in the final quarter which marked him out as a man with a plan.

Smith polished a capable team and made them into Champions. Would Powell have achieved the same had he stayed on, we'll never know but I have my doubts. The rugby played under Smith in 2004 (and the majority of 2005) was often simply devastating and despite a disappointing 2006 it was a fitting finale to his tenure with the Old Trafford destruction of St Helens in 2007.

McClennan was OK but he inherited a Champion team and given the tools at his disposal failed to take them on to another level. By the end of his three years Leeds were heading in the wrong direction, displaying poor ball control, defensive frailties and all too often suspect discipline. His management of the hooking position was also detrimental to the team's performance, IMO.

As for the other three they all fall under the heading of questionable gambles. Bell had come in to run the Academy but found himself in charge of the first team after Laughton's shock decision to quit on the eve of SL. Lance was a subsidised appointment who ended up losing the dressing room with player's publically questioning his team selections. Ironically one of those to do so was then catapulted into the hot seat when Lance was relieved of his duties. Someone had to step in at short notice and Powell took on the thankless task but the decision to award the coaching novice a three and a half year deal must rank alongside the more bizarre decisions of Hetherington's years in charge.

I agree entirely with your assesments of Murray ,Lance ,Smith and Bell.
Bluey had the thankless task of inheriting the defending Champions who were there to be shot at and were ageing themselves and still managed to win 4 trophies in 3 yrs of which 2 were back to back titles against a much stronger league imo something Smith never did despite having an all conquering squad.
The 9 debate will go on and i agree it did'nt work but winning Rugby is winning Rugby and Bluey also resided over the worst injury run the squad has suffered for years so imo to call label his stint as "OK" is way too harsh given the circumstances just look at Potter at Saints.
As for Powell he was thrown in at the deep end and imo began the "new era" when he disposed of the "old guard" and built a very good squad that Smith was then able to add the "X-factor" to in guiding them to the GF win.
Would we have won the GF with Powell in charge? We'll never know but DP played a major role in turning us from nearly men into serious contenders/trophy winners imo.

I'm settling for that. It is the off-season afterall and I shouldn't even be here.

That's cheating off season or not!

I wouldn't be too underwhelmed about us. You've just appointed someone who wasnt deemed good enough to run the kids team as assistant.

We have Tony Smith though

Yes you have got tony Smith and you are expecting to win 4 gf in 5 years plus two WCCs and runner up in FEW things you have won two CCs cups but ,if it dont start to happen I bet you wont hold TS in the same esteem as us