Yes, and prior to TS taking over getting to a GF was just a pipedream for this club. We do need to become champions, no doubt, but TS's record as coach of Warrington is the best we've had sinnce the 1950s, barring our 'golden' 1973-74 season.

This is very true, but are you not judging by a historic comparison rather than an a current comparison with our peers?

The financial clout and expectations of the club are very different post 2009 than they were at any point since the 1950's.

Like it, or like it not, TS has had the backing of the board, finances, time and full support of the fans to deliver a GF at some point in the last 8 years - and he hasn't. There is no escaping that he has failed to achieve the No1 objective.

Wigan, Leeds, Saints would not retain a coach with such record in my view. So the question is - why should we?

This was to widen the discussion. I have already posted about 'current context', my view essentially is that sacking TS without having a clue as to where we would find a better coach is not an option, and no-one has come onto this board to date with a convincing suggestion as to who such a better coach might be.

Unless users on here are professional RL administrators or agents - we will struggle to know how the land lies with international recruitment opportunities. so we can only speculate. A bit like when Cullen was axed, we didn't know we would get Smith, we just knew Cullen had to go. Using your argument though he would have stayed as we were better than we were since the 50's and we didn't know exactly who to replace him with.

Come on guys, hurry up... a random online user has to interview a potential candidate, get the contract drawn up and signed before we can even discuss that Tony Smith time might be running out.

Moran must read this forum and think

'come on guys, ONE of you has to come up with a decent suggestion for a replacement or im NEVER going to be able to get rid'

I was one of the last PC supporters, but no way is TS drinking at the last chance saloon! All the talk of how strong we are financially and therefore we should be recruiting the "best" ignores the salary cap.
Currently I've got this down as a disappointing start, not a calamitous season.
As for a replacement for TS go over to the Saints board and even though they are totally desperate all they can suggest is Powell or er Powell.

The coaching market has got a lot tougher in recent years. I know you have the optimistic view of appointing the likes of Hasler, Bellamy or Bennett, but why have those clubs - the biggest clubs in the northern hemisphere - been picking up coaches like Brian McDermott, Royce Simmons, Mick Potter, Nathan Brown, Keiron Cunningham?

Would Warrington fans be happy with any of those coming in to replace Tony Smith?

For the top teams, of which we aspire to be, the salary cap is the same. Perhaps we spent unwisely....?

I'm sure we will run out of excuses soon.

When a league competition becomes a knock out comp in its latter stages the possibility of unexpected results is very real. Thus an injury to a key player(s) in the final or a Ben Flower type incident has a much bigger consequence than it would in a standard league match.

I think that we have performed as a top team recently, maybe not the year before last. As you say "for the top teams" means that there must be more than one yardstick to measure success, or is there only one top team per year?

I thought Richard Agar was being groomed to take over from Smith. Is he still with the club ? Haven't seen him sat with TS this season.
From the TV obviously.

Ah!! just seen the answer on a different thread, as you were folks.

Sorry, I should be clearer.

[i"Top teams"[/i
Definition: Professional Rugby League teams that have won 1 or more Grand Finals in the previous 10 years.

So if we had of won three Grand Finals during the Cullen era but none since, would that not mean we're a top team?

We're a top team and Tony Smith has made us one. Weve gone from whipping boys and perennial under achievers to a well respected club who are there or there abouts when the honours are given out.

We've finished in the top three five times in eight seasons under Smith. In that time we've won the LLS twice, Challenge Cup three times and been to three Grand Finals.

Smith may or may not lead us to that elusive Grand Final victory but even if he does I'm sure there'll still be those who claim he should've achieved it much quicker.

Smith's got his faults but to claim he's not made us a top team is ludicrous.