Quote: karetaker "m.skysports.com/article/rugbyleague//9338520
Good news.'"
With these "plays down reports" stories you have to try and read between the lines. If he was leaving for the Dragons he couldn't say it in that interview before it had been released.
Quote: karetaker "Warrington coach Tony Smith has played down reports suggesting he is set for an imminent return to Australia but has admitted he is in discussions with the Wolves over his future.
The 47-year-old has been linked with a return to St George Illawarra, who are being coached by Paul McGregor until the end of the current NRL season following the recent departure of Steve Price.
However, Smith distanced himself from a role with the Dragons, adding that he and Wolves owner Simon Moran are working towards resolving matters regarding his position.
"I'll have a little bit of news in the next week or so but that's unlikely to be it," said former England coach Smith. "I'm working through some stuff with Simon at the moment."'"
Quote: karetaker "There have also been rumours that Warrington are keen to recruit Richard Agar to their staff following his exit from Wakefield, a possibility Smith did not dismiss.
Smith, whose assistants at the Wolves are Willie Poching and Richard Marshall, addedRichard is a talented young coach who has done a fantastic job.
"I'd certainly make inquiries about Richard but I think it's a bit early to make a decision on his future."'"
It certainly sounds like we are going to have an announcement soon and it's fairly believable that Agar will be joining the staff.
Coming and working under TS will be a good move for Agar who seems to have been highly rated by some people within the game for a while, hence him getting head coach opportunities early despite not being a big name as a player, but as a first team coach he hasn't got it right so far. But Agar will not want to be an assistant for the long term.
I do wonder whether the club are talking to TS about some kind of final contract which makes arrangements for the post-Smith succession, where they want to have someone already on board at the club to promote when he leaves. They can then have input in to recruitment so when they take over they have players that they wanted.
The conversations between Simon Moran and TS might be along the lines of
"Tony, we've had some success with a great team but it's breaking up now and needs rebuilding for a new era, realistically are you up for doing another 5/6 years with us to rebuild a new generation and take it forward, or would you be looking to move on in the next year or so, in which case how do we manage your succession....?"
