Once were Loiners wrote:Clearly we haven't played as well as we could for most of this season. But its quite possible that by the start of next season there might only be Myler, Fusitu'a, Newman, Handley, Oledzki, Martin and Smith remaining out of the first choice 17 when he arrived. That means we will have moved on the vast majority of the senior players that were here just over a year ago. Which is exactly what a lot of us suggested needed to happen.
No doubt some of the guys would have been toxic to a sporting team once they knew they were/are leaving. Even if not, they most likely are good friends with other players. Would it be a huge surprise if morale amongst the squad wasn't brilliant during this process?
I'm not saying Smith hasn't made mistakes, but assuming we bring in some real quality this season, the shake-up of the squad in a year and a half will have been enormous. I'm not sure many coaches could have kept everyone playing to their best in that situation, and I assume GH brought him in to do exactly this.
Exactly
Many if not most fans wanted a clearcut of dead wood and wasted Salary cap, if anyone thinks that can happen A. Quickly and B. without some upheaval and unrest they are kidding themselves.
Smiths Biggest test is when he has got rid of those players and brought new ones in, he will live and die by that a bit like Powell has at Warrington. The biggest difference between Powell and Smith is that Smith is at least looking to the future with the younger players, can't say the same with Powell and Warrington as a club either.