This poor season could probably be traced back to a badly managed pre-season. It seems we approached the games half d with a lack of gameplan and the focus being on getting minutes in the legs, regardless of which position it was in.

That could be put down to Smith's naivety, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the importance of pre-season for building combinations, structure and cohesion. I had a manager who insisted on people rotating teams so they knew a bit of everything. It doesn't work. People need to be experts in their areas with an understanding of others.

To play devil's advocate, this could potentially be the making of Smith, but he needs a wise head beside him as Director of Rugby. He's still a young coach and has made a fair few mistakes this season. If he can put his hands up and say he got it wrong, it could be a huge learning experience. But he needs someone there with experience. His coaching team is quite young and I wonder if there's anyone questioning his decisions, or if they're just nodding dogs.

What's clear is that the club is broken on the field, and has been for some time. It feels like we're stuck in the past still living off the success of the golden generation.

Yeah he's done a good job there imo has Holbrook. Leeds should most definitely be sounding him out just on the basis that it potentially doesn't work for Rohan. You can't let a quality coach sail by like that.

Simple solution Gary - get rid of our " out of his depth " trainee coach , and bring in the Master - Uncle Tony.

You really meant that comment Boots!

Looks like Holbrook could be back at Saints soon....

which goes to show the coach is the most important appointment in the club. Tony Smith has turned around a hull side that was worse than ours.
Wellans is struggling at saints as he hasn't the quality of his predecessor.
as for us

Posted this in another thread but on second thought it feels more appropriate here.

Kind of feels like Leeds is turning into a big corparate money machine. Can't remember the last time Garry got us a star player or big coach that impressed people. My opinion on the reason why is that all he cares about is money and not about the rugby team on the pitch, every single week it feels like we release a new merch line that people buy, we average the highest home attendance in super league consistently, really sponsor friendly atm with ooohhh look at us we have a womens team, disabled team, netball team ect. what an inclusive and family friendly club. We clearly have a good cash inflow, GH is filling his pockets quite nicely as he runs the club well off the pitch and is able to make money regardless of poop performances. If he has lost passion or enjoyment for the game ( not a stretch at all for someone 68/69 who has been involved in rugby for so long ) then why should he invest in the team if supporters still buy tickets, merch and food/drink. We arent bad enough to get relegated either.

This idea is of course all speculation from myself but to be honest it has become a genuine concern for me recently with how the club is being run. Ownership genuinely seems not to care that we are average and I fear us turning into another Hull FC, fairly big club that sits in mid table and does nothing.