Not everybody is like you.

Tony Smith

He was always the wrong coach for Saints

Strangely we were repeatedly told by some regulars on here that Warrington should learn from the way Saints replaced their coaches.

Maybe a lot of it comes about from who is available at the time you need someone.

I don't think anyone with half a brain will think Jimmy Lowes was ever going to be anything other than a stopgap until TS became available. You rarely if ever get a coach going from one club to another midway through their contract but what is disappointing is the lack of progression from assistant to head coach across the board of SL; Lowes didn't work, Agar is working & the jury is out on Macnamara...

Another odd coloured suit though. Sort it out Smith.

It looked beige...

He can wear his birthday suit for all I care if we keep making the progress we have over the last 12 months & he delivers a few more pots to boot.

Tellins fans act like there bottom of the league with all this potter out.. your in the top 6 with ten games gone. whats the problem?. i said to my bro when watching the saints v wigan game that i bet saints boo at the half time hooter... supprise supprise thay did. you guys have got your standards set so high that your exspecting to win every game. Welcome to the real world.

I'd really like to know what he's done differently to Lowes.
The results are there to see, but whenever you speak to him TS just says it's about 'tweaking' things.
I'm not sure that's really the case, but I would like to understand how he's managed to do what he's done.

Obviously he's got them really working for each other, but how?
I guess thats why he's a coach and I'm not....

I think he has the experience & guts to sit down with players & say "my way or on your way". Something no Warrington coach has had since probably Tony Barrow...

Interesting post on Red Vee about us and Wigan.



Nice to hear the first bit.

IF we was to get to the Grand Final and even tough away games in the Play offs I wouldn't be worried about us dealing with the pressure as last years Cup win shown this team can deal with it I remember before the semi going through the squad and seeing how many players had experience in big games here and in the NRL we had lots, if we get into the top 4/5 and go into the playoffs hopefully lucky with injuries I don't think anyone will want to play us.

For me this season is just continuing what we saw in the Cup but at a better and more consistent level.

Just going to enjoy the moment not been this happy about us in the league since that 10 game unbeaten run under Cullen in 2005 I think.

I think alot of it is down to respect for Smith.. It baffles me as to how mutch we have changed since hes been here. ................................ im lost for words! the man is a legend.

god help the next bloke then..lose a game and he`ll be getting the bird.off you lot...has it got nowt to do with the fact that theres no long cunninghams to old and you`ve only slipped a notch..

Just posted on a different thread about what he has done in just 13 months.

I remember a Monaghan quote in the Guardian saying it would take 12 months to correct our defensive errors. Looks like he was right.

I don't know why anyone should be baffled by the improvements. The one thing the coach can influence more than anything is the defensive shape and structure and develop good habits in the players. Smith is a good coach and has sorted it out. We have always had the players to create and finish in offence, it was clearly something Cullen was more aligned to as well. Strange considering he was a forward for most of his career.

It is more than that with Smith. He has instilled a desire to protect our line. There have been a couple of games this season where we have had the game won and prevented tries on the 79th minute.

Surely in the running for the England job?

I often think that too as he was an animal in defence when playing. PC never seemed to think we had an issue with our defence and that any defensive frailities would be mitigated by go forward and possession.

I wonder what he thinks privately about the turnaround under Smith? I hope he has learnt something positive from it. I guess PC deserves some credit for the squad he assembled during his tenure.

I'm sure he has as he's an intelligent fellow. I said yesterday I love listening to his analysis on Boots N All. Whatever some people think of him, he's still on of the best English coaches around.

He's already been there and failed spectacularly.

I think it's a lot more to do with uniting them as a squad and getting them wanting to play for each other, as demonstrated by the little things like going in and coming out together for everything, the way the celebrate forcing mistakes and pat each other on the back for the big shots, even picking each other up when mistakes are made.

Players at Superleague level have all the ability required to play the sport but still need someone to lead and get them working together, fighting for the same common goal as one unit.

Thats what I think Smith has done differently to Lowes

I still remember many doubting him as our coach because of the world cup in 2008.

As I mentioned on the 'second half nilling' thread. We're now enjoying our defence, the commitment and unity in all of our play is extremely impressive. Although the players deserve praise for executing the tactics, you must praise Smith for the turnaround. I've always said with us that I feel we always have a losing streak in us, a period where we'll go the best part of two months without a win, we've been mentally weak for years but I'm confident those days are behind us now, I'm confident we can bounce back from a loss and Smith has brought that confidence.

Well worked out Sherlock. Have you thought about joining the CID?

Agreed Geordie



They certainly seem to be enjoying the game much more than in other years, and I think its a nice touch that they all come out as a bunch now as opposed to single file. Team spirit is alive and well!