Some fair points BR, I think you could find negatives about just about every coach or certainly ones that are potentially available, even Wane and McGuire have had negative comments about them after been linked with us.



I do think he is the best option that we can realistically get and think he has more positives than negatives about him.

Fully agree with all of your post, he seemed a very genuine and caring guy, who had at the end lost the players, which can only ever end one way. He looked broken, I thought, after the Wakefield game and my wife, who doesn't follow any sport but works in healthcare, saw him interviewed, when he looked almost in tears, and she expressed concern over his mental health. Maybe it will be better for him in the long run, he obviously cared but didn't possess the ability to turn it around.

This is it. He's a proven head coach and available now. He's got a track record of turning failing clubs around



AP said in his statement:



A new head coach will be appointed in the near future to ensure they have a full pre-season to prepare the squad for the 2023 campaign.

 

This rules out Wane and Madge. They'll both have WC commitments.

Never been a big fan of Smith so not sure about this appointment. Paul Cooke described him on RH last night as weird and complex or something similar.



That said he's obviously hugely experienced and last year the RL world was eulogising about his ability to galvanise a squad and deliver big improvements, which you'd say are top of our list of requirements.

He may be a bit odd, but lasted 4 years at Leeds (his choice to leave) and 8 years at Warrington (his choice to leave) so you wonder how odd he can be, strange behavior, partciculay at the end (but you have to wonder how much was Larkins fault) at Rovers, but they are a strange club.

That’s the line that keeps us interested year after year. A player who has been injured for most of the year will be back and ‘like a new signing’ is another favourite.



Ending the season with a derby win was a pleasant salve but I find it hard to keep buying into those arguments. I’ve no real interest in watching the play-offs and I’d pay a fee not to have to watch another Saints-Wigan GF, if that were required. Salford-Hudds might pique my interest, tbf.



So, surely Kennedy, Opacic and Sue will offer more than Sims, Vete and Takairangi. And Jordan Abdull will be like a new signing. And the youngsters on the fringes of the squad will be a year older and better. But SKD, Linnett and Hall will also be a year older. Experience tells us we’ll lose another important player to long-term injury. And a lot of young players never ‘kick on’.



I’m somewhat optimistic. Peters and Delaney have both been willing to talk about winning. Which, after Sandercock’s red hot cracks, Chester saying we had to make sure we enjoyed the day, Peacock’s plan, Sheens wanting to play some footy and Smith wanting to entertain the fans, almost feels like a win in itself. Peters has even talked about winning trophies. I can’t make my mind up whether that is extremely ambitious or worryingly delusional. That’s the thrill of uncertainty that makes sport so compelling but which seems to be in ever shorter supply.



Edit - sorry, that’s some very Rovers-centric miserabilism for the Hull board.

Although it is always sad when anyone loses their jobs, the decision to remove Brett, and his assistant, along with the head of the fitness team as well, are actions which were needed, and hopefully it can help the club and it’s magnificent supporters who have had their fair sure of mediocrity and turmoil move forward to a brighter future.



Whoever AP recruits he has my full support, but to add my worthless two penny worth, out of the candidate’s who have been touted, if Madge is available, isn’t he just what Hull need, wouldn’t he have them fit, which we never seem to be, wouldn’t he instil the collective that has disappeared, and those who couldn’t keep up with his regime will fall by the wayside, he was if I remember correctly a revolutionary at Wigan, with high demands of performance and fitness, I’m probably just dreaming of this kind of appointment, but if I could choose it would be this little Aussie who could, if it is possible, change our apathetic approach to rugby league.

Maybe he was just got freaked out eventually by the 6 fingers and 7 toes that side of the river



.



Joking aside I must admit to being unsure about Smith for some reason even though he has a good track record, maybe it's just due to the fact that Hodgson's appointment didn't work out and the same issues remain or the way he left Rovers or that he has been at Rovers. Maybe it's that Smith doesn't to me seem to be the disciplinarian we probably need but then he does seem to be a very good man manager and gets improvements out the players he has.



Just hope and have my fingers crossed that for once we get the appointment of Head Coach and Assistant right whoever it is and they right the wrongs that are ingrained in the clubs players.

If true, Jason Davidson would be a fantastic appointment. Very highly thought of at Leeds and players and fans alike seem guuted he's leaving

Totally agree Rider, for me if it was between Tony Smith or Michael Maguire I'd probably favour Maguire.

The only thing I'd say is Madge was unable to turn the Tigers around. In fact they got worse.



Wests are bonkers, but I don't think we're far off them in the crazy stakes to be honest

He would be a good signing. He trained Leeds' golden generation. Where did you hear it?

Leeds aside, you have to look at Huddersfield. Walking away from his advisory role with the RFL and the GB role. He never saw the end game at Warrington and if I remember rightly his last season at the club was a bad one. You have to factor he took over Leeds in a better position then we are currentley in, the same with Wire.



Ive no doubt he can improve us but this isnt going to be an overnight project. People need to calm down on tbat front, it will take seasons before we would be genuinley challenging. Thats why I dont believe him comjng for 12 months is a smart move, its a waste of a year. Time the club doesnt have.



Id happily be wrong but you have to think getting within 20 points of St Helens in a game would be a vast improvement. That is where this playing group is. We cant compete with 6th or 7th let alone those higher up.



If we get Smith and he is prepared to stick arpund as head coach then we must back him as a whole from supporters down to academy. Will the fanbase still be as complimentary if we finish 8th again ? Given he is a proven head coach like you have said that has honours.



I maybe have seen too many false dawns but I have reservations which I would happily be proved wrong with.

I can't speak for anyone else but if Smith managed to get a fairly consistent season out of us with the team at least being in the fight every game, even finishing 8th, I'd consider that an improvement. I'm sick of starting well and then just imploding.

I'd be happy with us being bang average next season





If we go down, I'd like to see us go down swinging. Not roll over and get another 50/60 point defeat

This seemed to be the crux of the issue with us, rolling 12 month contract with a yearly 6 month period of will he wont he stay next year that ultimately led to a breakdown. A club can't plan on rolling 12 month coach with a view that 'if we're lucky he stays' that always seemed like an ego trip / messiah complex to me. If your committed sign a 2 / 3 year deal or just go, he went and here is he lining up his next spiritual conversion.

I want the same person as I wanted when Radford went. Steve McNamara.



He's the ideal candidate for us.

Is it me, or do I detect Dobbins fans being a bit salty at the prospect of TS coaching us?

Dressed up in perceived weaknesses, and everything being his fault with no fault attached to Lakin.

I’ll be happy seeing a fully committed team week after week





Where that takes us time will tell.



But with my blinkers on I actually think the players are better than they show us each week. The reason we perform so poorly is down to poor attitude and lack of effort. The dropped balls are because they aren’t prepared mentally or fully focussed? Look at our lack of defensive line speed on Saturday. In fact we barely took a step forward when defending and made it easy for Rovers to make breaks and make ground. Practically the whole of the first half was played in our 20.



Massive job but sort out the mentality of the team and it could be a decent season?

Irrespective of any personality clash that occurred at Hull KR, you could argue that Tony Smith has had the single most successful run as a Super League coach. I sometimes think his record flies under the radar a little.



Started badly with a Huddersfield relegation but if I remember correctly they were in a terrible state at the time. Got them promoted again straight away and then consolidated them in SL. Went to Leeds, won two Super League titles and a WCC along with one CCF appearance and one other GF appearance. Goes to Warrington and wins three Challenge Cups, two League Leaders Shields and two Grand Finals. Goes to Hull KR and gets them within a game of Old Trafford.



As I've said before on here I think Shaun Wane would be the perfect personality for Hull at the moment but in terms of track record there isn't anyone better than Tony Smith.

In his autobiography Rob Burrow says for the first two weeks after his appointment at Leeds Smith taught them how to catch and pass which for us is probably needed.

Just be good to have a genuine head coach for once

I 'know' someone on the staff at Rovers.



Was talking to him over a few beers after the derby last season. Said Smith was the best coach he'd ever worked for. His impact on the club, from top to bottom was huge.



He brought every member of staff in and laid out his vision. From the coaching team to the tea lady.



I'm sure he'll have a galvanising effect, on what is, an incredibly fractured club.

I don't think its probably needed I'd say its definitely needed as our ball retention skills are shocking and half of the players couldn't catch cold let alone a ball. That's why for me Hodgson even before the debacle against Rovers had to go as the team couldn't even complete basic skills of rugby and that was evident in the shocking performances since June.



The players are just as much accountable as Hodgson as they just haven't put in the required effort in be it game day or in training each day which is clear. Its almost as they they must have just swanned in to training for a bit of a gym work and a social. The cozy club needs to be demolished and certain players need to start working hard for a living instead of thinking they are untouchable.

I know everyone has their opinion on whether Tony Smith is the right man for us, but as far as I know there has been no confirmation or denial from the club (unless I've missed it). Could be a damp squib but I sincerely hope not as we need someone of his calibre to save this sinking ship (many of the crew seem to have abandoned ship already).