Well, these things you list are more or less the facts, whether you like them or not. It's kinda amusing that it is usually the same names calling for the coach to be fired after each loss. But I don't think that we're quite there yet with Smith, however embarrassing it was for some on here to lose to a 12 man Wakey side.



Smith took most of the current squad to a GF in a few months, and Hardaker aside, most fans would agree that we have a better squad this season with the first choice additions he has made (Olpherts aside, but I don't think he played this week, did he?).



Some of them are his players, but the majority of cap space is taken up by players not recruited by Smith. And again a lot of that cap space is not on the field, which is not Smith's fault. So as long as we are not threatened with relegation, I would still give Smith time with a few more signings of his choice, especially in the spine. Many on here wouldn't have retained Powell at Warrington for a second season but they aren't doing badly now. Smith can't live on the GF for ever, but he should be good for this season so long as we see a positive turnaround in the coming weeks.



I agree Smith does have a responsibility with the players available, who on paper should have been capable of beating Wakefield (I wasn't there, but Wakefield were going to pick up a result sooner or later - jury's out whether it was our bad luck to get them during a bad run of injuries and form - we'll find out in the coming weeks).



I wonder whether there's a problem in the playing group. Are they working for one another or playing as individuals? Some of the defence against Cas suggested the latter - far too many players jumping the line etc. Yet again, lots of individual errors may suggest that too many players are trying too hard to do it all. Smith will hopefully learn from this, given the chance.



One thing I would be looking at now if I were GH is to use the cap space caused by Leeming's departure to look to bringing in a decent mid-season signing. No doubt Leeds have been looking at options as soon as Leeming left. Obviously there are risks, but if the right player is available it could help turn us around.

No idea what this is.

not sure they were dumped. most simply got to the end of there careers and left. wasn't powell about 35 when we signed him? certainly wasn't young

That list is odd. Powell was virtually retired when we signed him, and Farrell and Fleary weren't young either. Sheridan was a reasonably big signing at the time, and the list also ignores Harris, one of the biggest signings we've ever made. The squad was an utter mess when they took over, as we'd almost gone bankrupt, and GH also brought in a number of players who might not have been big signings but were desperately needed to boost the squad (including a bunch from Sheffield). I'm not sure what point they are trying to make?



Fact is when GH and Caddick took over in 1997 they started spending big, and also focused on junior development. At the same time. We continued to make big signings throughout most of the Golden Generation era, particularly from overseas.

All factually correct but alas the "Big name players" are unattainable with the disparity in salary cap what we all need to understand is that our sport in the northern hemisphere is a poor relation to the southern hemisphere and for the politics it will ever be so, we have to get real and accept it for what it is.

agreed. the secret is to find players like kylie and Scott Donald. huge successes here but deemed surplus over there