Quote: Conroy "We'd just lost our first choice number 7 FFS and had to move a 13 to 6 before introducing a new player into arguably one of the most important positions on the field where he had to not only learn how to work our moves but how to work with the players around him.'"
We did NOT have to move 13 to 6. There were other and better options. We lost one player and made matters worse by moving the leagues best 13 to a position he does not play well in against decent sides and had to play someone else at 13. So not only did we lose Tommy we lost our 13 who was also key to the way the team played.
We then moved the leagues best 13 to 9 when in the playoffs.
Quote: Conroy " It took Brett Finch a year to do that but he was lucky to have Ryan Hoffman and Jeff Lima alongside him who knew his game and he knew theirs. Smith had nobody.'"
Smith wasn't played in the half backs in league games in the run up to the CC despite the fact we bought him off Salford because Wane wanted to stick with Lockers at 6 and Finch at 7 due to Smith being cup-tied. After Tommy came back for the play offs Smith didn't play half back again. Why on earth did we bring him in, in 2012? He didn't figure at 7 in either major competition. It's not Smith's fault and its not an issue with Smith that our post-exiles form was rubbish. Far more to do with Wane.
Quote: Conroy "We'd also lost yet another prop forward, were missing our first choice winger, had swapped our back row around to accommodate Lockers moving to 6 and had several other players playing injured as we had no numbers left.'"
Yes we did swap the back row about! We even played Lockers at 9! That is part of the problem and partly why we didn't do better.
Quote: Conroy "We pasted Catalans in the playoffs and were a point away from making the GF but lost to the eventual Champions who were also defending their crown.
'"
Battering the 4th placed side and being a point away from a GF next season won't keep Wane in a job whether he wins the league or not.