Not sure the club would be concerned, his team missed the play offs last year, and they still assessed that he was a good appointment. This year, despite the free fall, is more successful than last given the cup run.

As fans go, I think pressure will build on Powell, as I’ve said previously. From the end of the Smith era, there has been frustration re: recruitment and who was ultimately responsible for that. Smith had credit in the bank, but suffered from a poor recruitment pattern and frustrated fans blamed their choice of Agar, Fitzpatrick and Smith. Price has had similar stuttering signings, but has been saved by the ambiguity of signings to keep pressure off his back. I think it’s pretty widely accepted that Latu wasn’t wanted by Price, Sita has stuck around despite not being fancied by the coach, even BMM didn’t seem to fit in to his plans really, had the feel of a square peg.

But Powell has gone on record to say he is solely responsible for recruitment, he’s bringing his own men with him, coaches and players, he’s got Williams in, kept King and has been backed by showing a few big names the door who don’t fit in his plans (Austin & Mamo, plus Hill and Lineham if you believe the rumours). Expectation will build, quickly. The buck stops with him, he has a team that is 3rd or 4th best at the moment and demand to move up, and he has been backed to do that. We don’t need a ‘project’ coach, we need someone to get us over the line. Is he the man?

INOUT

In your assessment you are neglecting to mention £.

He had Castleford outperforming their cap limit and had a number of man of steel players whilst improving young players.

Anyway what are the options? We had 3 barren years with Price, another 1 wont hurt and give Powell the chance.

£ is one of the things that the board should have factored in though, as I’ve said. There’s little evidence that he can work with stars (debate on who the stars are aside), as Chase and Hardaker went off the rails and the others moved on quickly.

Paul Anderson has the same amount of trophies, and had success with a limited squad, but if he got the job we’d be scratching our heads in amazement.

My point is that the recruiting panel don’t seem to have a criteria for the post. The board have curated a squad of stars (at time of purchase) but haven’t got a leader who can get the best out of them. This isn’t a Powell bashing, this is that the direction from the executive isn’t clear.

To me, right now, it looks like the Cullen era when we had Monaghan, King, Anderson, Hicks etc and all the tools to compete but unfortunately the leader couldn’t squeeze the best out of them. And I love Paul Cullen, but the difference between Tony Smith and Paul Cullen is night and day.

If the board are maximising the cap, using the marquees and putting all of the available tools on the table for success, the coach must be a part of that plan, not just someone to hand out shirts. They need to knit the personalities, the EGO’s and the skills together to make a team.

I’m not saying Price is/was better (looks that way at the moment, his stock is rising with every poor week), but what I am saying is that we announced Price was leaving before a ball had been kicked, why rush and jump in to a decision unless it is the outstanding candidate.

I think many will share the comments on our recruitment strategy (if there is one). I would like to see us have a Director of Rugby who can have a longer term view on recruitment, retention, strategy, facilities, standards, sporting direction. Free up Karl to concentrate on marketing and non sporting operations.

Price should be remembered for the CC win balanced with the 3 limp out playoffs. He had 4 seasons. 3 seasons to apply a "quick fix" which he never did. Powell has come into a circus show of a club and playing squad and has had 10 games or so.

If we are still in this predicament in 12 months time and not showing progress then I will be calling for him to go. Until then I back him 100%.

It's more like the Cullen era when we had Reardon, Rauhihi, Sullivan, Vinnie Anderson, Swann. Players who were past their best or not as good as we thought.