Sacking Smith now is also flawed thinking, we signed him as a long term coach, we need to give him some time.

You mentioned Hull, sacking their coach, hows the constant merry go round of coaches since then working out for them?

RS gets this season and chance to shape next seasons squad. Understand the frustration but knew jerking now is not what’s needed.

Yeah I know. I'm not advocating sacking him right now, but I'm a Smith sceptic. The thing about a long-term coach is, they have to be the guy, the right person.

I think Smith is that person, I guess we’ll have to wait snd see.

Sadly for Leeds Smith's lack of experience at the elite level will lead to a very long learning curve. It seems to me he is still working on his style e.g. passive defence, odd attacking structures. It seems he is using Leeds to hone his style.

Leeds needed a very experienced proven coach - perhaps in GH's defence no serious coach was willing to come - especially after the Furner show and the unhelpful influence of JJB - fortunately Smith soon put a stop to that.

Poor recruitment over many years and the lack of quality youth coming through hasn't helped - when did Leeds last produce a quality half back or FB? Every year we hear - great youngsters coming through - but where are they especially in key positions 1,6,7,9,13

passive defence on a children's size pitch simply invited pressure on our line. a stupid tactic which backfired

I don't to be honest, unfortunately. I think we're about to embark on a similar 3/4 years as what we had under Agar.

Smith is still untangling the mess created during the Agar years.

It will take longer than the 6 months hes been here. Apparently the work he’s doing within the club is all about the long term. Problem is fans are fickle snd see everything in the short term.

Wouldn’t say fans are ‘fickle’, but have been duped into believing the short term, cancel culture works. Society in general has gone that way. I would say people over 40 know that improvement takes time and patience. Think Fergie had about 5 years at United before winning anything!

We do need to get it right to give us the best chance of success in the medium to long term, but that does need to be balanced with results and, dare I say it, entertainment, in the short term. That's just the nature of professional sport and the world we're in, where there are many competing areas in which to spend our leisure £££. Difficult to achieve? Probably. But it's a challenge that needs to be met head on.

I agree you need to stick with it for at least this and the next two seasons - by then if it isn't working then its time to review.

Hopefully like Murray he can change the culture in the club, develop a youth development structure that actually delivers. Improve external recruitment that fits into the style he wants to play which looks like West Tigers 2005.

Agreed

Yes, that's a fair assessment.

Yep, great post

Looking at how Rohan treats the younger players and the fact Johnson has only played 40 mins since his op, I assume Rohan wants him to play more minutes before bringing him into the first team.

That combined with the fact he had to have cover on the bench for Newman. I wouldn't be surprised to see him at Bradford this week. as other people say Rohan seems to look at the long term plan rather than panic decisions.

Johnson also took a year out of the game which hindered his progress. He’ll get his chance.

Exactly right. I do think there are a small minority on here who would take pleasure in Johnson not achieving the potential he showed as a youngster. I can't get my head round that. Now is his chance, but only when he is physically ready. Two or three weeks in the reserves or on loan would do no harm at all. By the end of the season we'll probably know about Johnson one way or another, but for now we should have our fingers crossed for him.

He looked like a real talent - hopefully he can carry that forward - we certainly need a quality 9

i think that you will find that a much better team made a poor leeds team look exactly what they are 'A POOR TEAM'

When asked about Leeming, Smith mentioned Johnson is now fully fit, so he's an option going forward.

It was two poor teams, im not sure Cas fans should get carried away with last night

Its clear we still have too much dead wood in the team, and we just don't have a leader (or leaders) who will grab the game by the scruff of the neck and drag the rest of the team with them. Of our spine players Myler has never shown he can take that responsibility here or elsewhere, O'Connor is still learning the basics of his role, and Sezer seems to generally only put in the effort if we're already going well. Austin is the only one who seems to try, but he lacks the kind of class/speed needed to make a difference. On top of that we have a pack that lacks someone to take the lead when the going is tough.

Its more than possible that the Leeming issue could have affected morale. He's a senior player, captain from last year and he's clearly had his nose put out of joint ever since O'Connor started to be picked ahead of him. About a week before Smith said there wouldn't be a captain he was in the papers talking about how he wanted to be captain again. So Smith's announcement would have been a real kick in the teeth. It may well have been the right decision based on Smith not seeing him as first choice, but Leeming wouldn't be human if that didn't smart. Probably best all round if he leaves.

Based on last year that Smith can coach us to winning ways, but the squad he inherited was an utter mess - right to the cap limit but completely lacking in real quality or depth. He added size to the pack and depth, mostly in younger players, but until we get quality where it counts we'll continue to lose games we ought to win. Last season glossed over the fact the squad was still poor. I think we'll improve and comfortably avoid relegation, but this year will be all about consolidation and finding which of the younger players are likely to make it.

I think your comment would make more sense if it said out of 2 very poor teams last night Cas came out on top.
Leeds were dreadful due to a mixture of having no go forward, backs who can`t catch or play the ball and half backs who were non existent against a Cas team who clearly wanted it more following 4 straight defeats.

Actually our middle held up okay: Holroyd. Sangare were solid and Tet at least aggressive and direct. Cam Smith was good again.

I am not convinced on Lisone yet but he may need more time.

If I’m being honest I would be fairly happy to lose Myler, Olpherts, Fusitu’a, Austin, maybe Sezer, Tet, Lisone, Bentley from the squad in addition to Leeming.

You can add three cracking first grade players maybe FB, SO and possibly a 9 or another prop depending on how the young lads step up.

If we can just stabilise the senior players with better quality I would lean into the youth system now. At least the pack is finally getting there.

Lisone will be a good signing IMO, I also think Fusitua is starting to show his promise, and i 100% disagree with getting rid of Bentley.

I do think there will be a massive clearout next year though, we’ve finally got a coach who isn’t afraid of getting rid of dead wood - which is why im finding it frustrating that some leeds fans have turned on him already.

Look at Hudds in Watsons first full year and Wire in Powells, it takes time.