Can we nail this LLS stuff. No other big team sets that as a target. Our target was to win the Grand Final.

We're a strange club, when looking at coach retention.

If we take the average length of time for a coach to be two years, we rarely comply. We either have the "stay longer than the Mother-in-law at Christmas",..... Johnno over 7 years, DVDV 4 years, Cullen over 5 years and Smith 8 years......then, there's the revolving door syndrome....Anderson, Plange, Dorahy and gobpooh Lowes. We're either kneejerk or too sentimental.

As I've said before, I can't see Moran getting shut of Smith any time soon. They portray this image of them skipping through a cornfield, hand in hand, looking at each other longingly. An appalling season will be the only way that Smith goes.

p.s. He's still the best coach we've had in my watching lifetime

And will be this year too. The best way to give us a chance of doing so is to win the LLS (unless St Helens finish 4th). I agree the LLS is close to worthless (to us) but I'd rather win it than finish 5th. All routes should lead to Old Trafford; nothing else matters.

last year was so close, no matter how far.

Again, you are overanalysing it to serve a particular agenda. Sport [iisn't[/i just about winning and all those other things [iare[/i important. However, he's a professional rugby league coach and his number one ambition at the start of the season will be to win the top trophy. This doesn't stop him from worrying about player development, player welfare, providing entertainment. But trust me, when he sits down with the Board, and most importantly, Simon Moran, his overriding objective will be to deliver trophies and one above all.

On the topic of who I'd like as Smiths successor i would like to throw an alternative suggestion out there

Alfie Langer

Currently working at Brisbane as an assistant coach - so not a total newcomer to coaching
Former Warrington player so has the ex player/knows the club angle
As an ex half back could hopefully help improve our attacking play

Not sure why he'd be interested in coming to Warrington though. He'd be an unknown quantity and the pay would have to be very very good bearing in mind the exchange rate. Would he uproot his family for just a couple of years for the sake of a few extra quid and the risk of being unsuccessful in his first big job?

JJB on the superleague show bemoaning the lack of maverick players in the modern game ,sacrificed in favour of one size fits all utility players in the mould of "it's not the winning it's the taking part that matters".Also comments from McManus & Tony Smith about the state of the international game & competition from RU for our best players.

Kevin is a similar player the Lee Briers so I think good times are round the corner for the Wire again

I thought we were the top points scorers last season ?

Smith has been great for us that cannot be really debated he has brought us silverware and had influences in changes off the pitch also. But so far is yet to bring us the super league trophy we want. The challenge cup and Lls should be the icing on the cake not make the season a success.

The reason for our failure to win the SL trophy can be debated but the buck must stop with him. We've missed out on finals where we have been ahead and should have closed the games out. I don't rate ts as a great tactician when we have creative and intelligent players we do and play well, without them we look devoid of ideas or a plan b when we don't blow teams away in the first 20.

Who do we look at to replace him? I don't know but we need a coach who can brig the best out of the players available. To be able to change things mid game someone that players will run thru brick walls for. We're not in a desperate rush but we should be looking as it should not be down to whose available when smith decides to leave. If the club become aware someone is available that they have identified as smiths successor they should get him signed up n move smith upstairs

At the start of last season, after such a lacklustre season before and our full knowledge of our lightweight pack, our aim was just to get into the top4. We exceded our expectations last season.

The coach and players last season were quite clear that the aim was to win SL.

Retrospectively lowering ambitions to just below achievement is not really the hallmark of winning behaviour.

I don't think a light pack is as relevant in this day & age & mobility among the forwards is more important.What seems to destroy our ambitions are any permutations of the following points...disrespecting possession, trying to score on every move & having no Plan B.Simple catching & passing moves would seem a good place for the coaching staff to concentrate on & try working some composure into our sets in possession.This subject crops up every season & nothing changes on the field.

I consider the clout of Moran far more significant and the key to success.
I doubt there would be any backward step if Agar took over from today.
I'd be content to see Smith take a role upstairs.
Crucisl selection errors in our post 2012 finals era.