Russell is simply too good a player now to benefit from kid gloves. He's already passed the point where he would benefit from less games or a spell with swinton... he needs to be tested against the top clubs to improve.

As for the original premise of the thread... this does have to be the most ridiculous suggestion in the short time I've been around. The only reason Smith would have taken us as far as he can, is that there really isn't anywhere to push on from 4 trophies and 2 grand finals. Yes it would be nice if we'd pulled it off at OT, but sport doesn't always work like that. Smith pulled together a team of utter misfits after Cullen left and moulded them into a championship quality side... he did the same with (an arguably much stronger group) at Leeds and there is no doubt that he has the ability to do it again here.

...not without a decent front row.
Hill cannot do it by himself.

Poching must have served his apprenticeship now, time for him to start looking for a coaches job somewhere.

Get Briers and (wait for it) Shaun Long in, have them working on attack, also lock the pumps and beer fridges and make some use of the NHS building.

TS can then work on the defending.

Or get sean longs dad on the phone!

Ironic that Matty Russell is given time to grow into his position...yet he is 1 year younger than GOB but with more experience due to him playing in Austrailia & for Scotland....yet GOB is yet again made the team scapegoat.....unfortunately Rubbie Duckie is right as far as HB for Friday go.
With no attacking play being coached, Briers is busy coaching the U19's who are flying, the only way for him to learn is in a match but with no one to help he is out of his depth...Myler is a support player not an organiser but doesn't want to be the support player with a less experienced player...and Ratchford plays better at centre than stand off....but TS wouldn't be able to play all his superstar players is that was the case.

My theory has always been the same.
It's that you have your best players closest to the ball.
The two best players with ball in hand at present is Ratchford and Bridge.

No brainer, they play at hb.

And if we bring in another hb then he plays with Bridge and Ratchford is moved to 3/4 or bench.

Agreed to some extent that it is ironic, but ,although I've never 'scapegoated' GOB he is in experience terms more than a year older than Russell with his stints here and elsewhere in SL. An experienced, new signing would have been given time to integrate into the team.

The writing's on the wall for me for GOB as when picked others have kicked. I'm surprised really as he's a belting place kicker and knoicking the two's over wouldn't have done his confidence any harm surely?

i haven't seen anyone making a scapegoat of GOB... Just an admission that he doesn't appear to be good enough to be a HB for a top side.

He's an inexperienced HB for a side that has many failings atm....

and where does Myler fit into your plan?

This

agreed. I wouldn't go so far as to say he is one of the problems, but he certainly doesn't appear to be one of the solutions either.

I agree he's not ready mainly due to the lack of game time and/or confidence....I think there needs to be a few 'solutions' and I'm not one who is wanting TS to go...I think its on the pitch/players where the main problems lie

Isn't there a position available on blue peter now?