Noticed Smith waited at the dugouts at the end of the game to shake hands with all the Leeds players and they all hugged and greated him warmly.

Just shows what tosh many of the rumours on here about his relationship with the players were.

ahaha i haven't heard that one before, brain dead amebas.

Smith left Leeds as a respected and admired coach, any suggestion that he was in the least disliked by ANY player is complete and utter bollox – I know this first hand. Most of the squad were dismayed when Smith left from what I can gather.

There were alot of rumours on here circa 05 and 06.

I reckon davidby was one of the leading exponents.

That's is absolute tosh, there were several players who were more than happy that Smith was on his way, I chat every couple of week with one of those players who has now left the club - he is convinced Smith was bipolar.

If you are going to make things up then at least make an effort.

Smith best coach we have had in the modern era, look at the job he is doing at the Wire. I would have him over Bluey anytime. He brought Leeds the sucess we have now

Bluey's head to head record with smith:

Bluey 2 smith 0

Bluey 1 title 1 wcc

smith 2 titles 1 wcc

You know the voices in your head don't qualify as ex-players?

Do you think [ianyone[/i believes what you type?

I wont name him so I have PM'd you, he thought Smith had some serious relationship issues with players.

richie - who gives aflying f*ck whether they all hated Smith's guts? A 'former' player who has bad things to say about a coach? Whatever next. FFS grow up.

I think the players gave a f*ck but hey what does that matter.

Whilst the performance at Odsal was awful, no getting away from that, I can still think of other efforts during the early 90's that surpass even that. Regal Trophy final, Premiership final, CC semi all come to mind.

As for my take on Smith, I give him all the credit for 2004. He instilled a belief in the players that I don't think Powell could ever have managed. Come the end of his reign, despite the title win, I do think it was time for him to move on. Players and coaches can become stale, familiarity breeds contempt and all that, so it was either change the playing roster or the coach.

They can but it's not always the case. How are Brisbane getting on after Wayne Bennett?

Was it Jamie "the brains" Thackray?

Thats Cullens nickname!!!

No Cullens nickname is now " oh feck that if hes on it im not watching!!"

Catchy dont you think

No it wasnt.

No richie - the views of some former player about whether they liked Smith or not don't matter one sh*t unless you like being some kind of ex-player groupie.

Did the 'unnamed player' win a GF with Smith? If not why not? If he was dropped history says that was entirely right of Smith and any comments said player may make about Smith smack of bitterness. If he did play in a winning side, ask him if he'd trade that experience in for having a better relationship with his coach. If he says yes then you know the guy's taking you for a fool or is a village idiot themselves. If he says no then his views on whether he liked Smith are pointless even to himself.

All that matters is that we won the Championship twice with Smith as coach. And now once under Bluey.

I have never met Smith or McCLennan nor talked(allegedly) to any ex-players about either of them but I'll always be grateful to Smith for making us a winning team.
However, there is something about him I find puzzling & troubling.
Whenever I've seen him interviewed he rarely looks the interviewer in the eye; on the odd occasion that he does, he tends to narrow his eyes when he makes his response.
He also tends to turn his head to one side as if he struggles to hear the questions being put to him
Contrast that with McClennan who talks fully to the interviewer or to the camera & therefore IMO seems much more open.
Maybe the amateur psychologists or body language experts on here can throw some light on this behaviour. Or am I the only person to have spotted this?

McClennan has seemed increasing twitchy in recent interviews

I've been PM'd and shall not betray the confidentiality but said player Richie refers to did not play in a winning GF under Smith but did play in a losing one.

could just be the simple answer. one doesn't like been in the spot light, and one is happy to have all the attention.

only applies to one person doesn't it ?

Was the player in question gay? I thought I'd heard he'd done a man