I think Credit for today & our great start to the season must also be given to Ben Lazenby Player Performance Manager & Chris Baron Head of Strength & conditioning. The players are giving their all for 80 mins unlike past seasons where we have tired after 60 mins to be overtaken and beaten on the day.
Tony Smith has created a great set up behind the scenes to ensure nothing is overlooked in the preparation to any game.
You can see when the likes of Atkins, Grix, Westwood etc get the ball they pump their legs to get the extra yardage before the tackle is complete on them.

agreed

We have looked different right from the start of the season, leaner, stronger & much much fitter. I know we have had a few injuries, but nothing in comparison with previous years. I wonder if the new training base has anything to do with it as well?

We're just more of a squad now, as you can tell when we come out of the tunnel and go in, how all of the players wait until they're all there until they go. Small things can make such a big difference...

Chirs Baron at some of his status' updates on Facebook.

Excellent job by the backroom staff. Noticed during the warm-up sessions yesterday that TS actually seemed to be watching Huddersfield. Well he knows what our guys can do, maybe he was watching to see if they were "trying something out" or if any of them looked a bit shaky. (or maybe he had an idea what was going to happen and thought it was actually the best time of the afternoon to watch huddersfiled play...lol)

TS watches every opposing side during the pre match warm up i dont think you'll find another coach doing that, especially not on the pitch.

The small thing do make a difference and it shows, each player works hard for one another they look like a bunch of mates together. I remember leeds used to do the same, the players coming out and going in the tunnel as one, just shows what playing, looking, acting like a team can do, we've not had that for years.

But as this thread is headed, hats off to the coaching staff, the younger lads look fitter n stronger than most youngest in the league and i think you'll struggle to find another 32 year old prop who can play 80mins at 100mph!!

Other coaches do it, I noticed Noble doing it years ago.

Compared to a year ago we have come amazingly far.

TS says he's only changed little things. In that case, he's changed a 4ell of a lot of little things - a bit like the British cycling team at the Olys where they paid attention to all the detail for the little 0.1% gains.

I'll try and list a few of them - not in any particular order

1. Went back to basics last year and got the guys holding the ball, carrying the ball and passing the ball correctly. (Hence the Rau incident.....)
2. Stamped his authority on the team early on - see 1.
3. Worked with the 'then' backroom staff to get them pulling in the same direction. (Special credit needs to go for his man mangement of Jimmy L)
4. Got the guys standing correctly at the kick off so we didn't have stupid mistakes like being in front of the kicker.
5. Prepared to give the young 'hot shots' a go - with their enthusiasm and top attitude, putting some of the established stars under pressure.
6. Identified a problem with 'team harmony' in the camp and got rid of a high profile player who had perhaps been resting on his laurels a bit too much (don't know this for certain - just summizing)
7. Brought in Mathers to strengthen full back position, but just as importantly bring the type of attitude and enthusiasm that was needed.
8. Gave - in particular - King some self confidence back and he started to perform in a manner that we knew he should be.
9. Tactically very astute during the games and could change how the team played during a match and importantly after half time.
10. Handled the Briers situation extremely well - he knew he was key to the side at this time in the clubs development and gave Lee a chance to show he wasn't the 'playboy'. He even got him tackling well!
11. Got the lads believing in each other and working for each other as if their lives depended on it. (Harrison is a particular case in point - throwing himself into tackles).
12. Got the fans believing in his way and got them supporting the team rather than booing them. The fans become an extra man.
13. 3 top quality player signings and - just as importantly - backroom staff changes to strengthen the squad.
14. Got rid of the 'you only win when Briers plays' tag.

I don't actually think that many of these things are little -and he's being modest in his analysis of whats changed.

I - for one - don't under-estimate his man-management ability and tactical astuteness.
I would also never underestimate his ruthlessness if I crossed him (Iron fist in a velvet glove at the start, then when he's gotting the team playing how he wants, there's usually no need for it).