And to think ,but for Mr Smith's mutually agreed departure, next season could have been as bad if not worse. Whoever comes in looks like having very little to work with unless we have some signings on ice. We are obviously not a honey pot of a club judging by how long it is taking to find anyone who seems interested in the job & if no scouting work has been done in this field earlier in the season it looks like the higher management were happy to maintain the status quo for next season. The whole episode smacks of amateurish incompetence right through the club hierarchy of so called businessmen.

i was talking to a friend last night about this over a few beers..... and after a while, we came to the conclusion that we would like to see Cullen on the coaching staff.

The thinking was that he would be able to generate a bit of 'love for the shirt'... which has been in very short supply lately.

So it was an up and coming coach from the NRL with Cullen as his assistant.

May as well have 'Orford Mike' on coaching staff if we want love for the shirt.

Cullen has been away from sport long enough to be behind the times when it comes to techniques and coaching. Would be nice to have him involved, something alongside Richard Mathers' role.

you know, it was nice(and weird) to see cull handing shirts out and wearing training gear earlier this season, i always wondered if there was any bad blood between him and the club, but i guess that time heals all wounds.

im not sure 'Orford Mike' played over 300 games over 16 years... but i know what you're saying.

Does an assistant need to be well up on coaching techniques under a proper head coach? More than likely needs to be an arm round the shoulder, a pat on the back and a word in the ear.

Look at our last assistant... he was well clued up in the ways of modern RL and squash.

Either way.. whatever the role, i would like to see him back at the club.... probably wont happen though.

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How many beers did you have?

Not too sure about the sentiment of keeping ex-players and ex-coaches around on the staff. Sometimes you need a clean break away from any of the old culture to make things work differently and better.

I'd happily take anyone without any Wires connection so long as they can bring us the GF win we so desire.

Come on, do you really think that Smith announces his resignation on the Sunday and KF flies out Monday morning to Aus. Do you not think that this was planned weeks ago and the trip arranged around the announcement. And we have not already been talking to coaches and players. Regardless of the on field achievements this season the club is still run well and organised. We are not just starting form now with recruitment and replacement, but if it helps for you to spout negativity again then fine keep going if it makes you happy

You seem to make a large number of assumptions without any evidence. The suggestion that the supposed delay in announcing a new coach equates to trying to find someone who is interested, beggars belief. Would you really want such an important decision to be made in haste?

enough to have Cullen as assistant

The Mole (love him or hate him) has just replied to a tweet saying he thinks the Maloney move has a chance, and when was asked who he thinks our next coach will be, he said Maguire.

Well from what i have heard from people close to the club, the mutual decision for Smith to stand down was only made hours before it was announced, so is it possible the club were not already scouting for a coach & were quite happy for the status quo to continue ? There doesn't seem to be a stampede beating a path to the HJ, but just like everyone else i am allowed an opinion.

Smith initiated it you mean? Or the board realised the issues couldn't be rectified?

Maybe the interested parties thought the time was right to discuss matters but you would have thought the club were privy to Smith's disillusionment with the game....or has he kept that thought close to his chest till the time was right to air his views. But you would think the hierarchy in the club would have twigged things have not been right this season on the pitch or behind the scenes.