So in no way does he carry any responsibility for 2017? A misunderstood genius who suffered an unfair reputation reached at all 3 of his last clubs?

Talk about misguided loyalty. I'm glad to see the back of him. It's a results business!

It always intrigues me as to how people come to the conclusion that Agar is terrible. Not just him but I find it hard to ascertain the respective qualities of any coach/head coach from what we get to see which is the finished article on the pitch. There are so many variables which contribute, it is near on impossible for us as fans to be able to judge.

1. Judge on results (current and track record) Hull, Wakefield, Wire and France if you like.
2. Judge on performance - tell me how many games this year the team looked well drilled, enthusiastic with sharp skills and keen defence ?

Which NRL team has been daft enough to offer him a job?

I'll be honest...I actually thought having two first team coach's would work and was behind them both...but this season I've been against Agar and TS... I'd have stomached another poor season had it not been for the fact that the pair of them thought this downturn was temporary. Them being unable to except that changed my outlook.

To be fair to Richard, when in the past ten years have France, Wakefield or even Hull (until recently) done well under any coach? No one really knows what he contributed behind the scenes but his colleagues have always spoken highly of him (from what I've heard/read). The poor man was a scapegoat.

OK fair enough, that's your view. I know the Wakey lot were warning us a few years ago about him, and there is a current thread about him on the Wakey forum which is less than complimentary.

I ask again, have you ever thought at any time this season that we looked a well drilled, slick handling, defensively sound, enthusiastic and organised outfit?

But it doesn't matter now does it - he's gone.

Honest question but I probably get truly honest answers..

How much of the negativity towards Richard Agar stems from his appearance alone?

Oh I don't know....I mean he's better looking than TS.

For me it appears that he has the sort of inverse Midas touch, nothing to do with being bald. Brian Bevan looked a bit odd, never stopped him.

When you think of the budget he had at Hull, and did f all with em, and was backed at Wakey in terms of players he wanted in at the budget, he made play offs once - and that was partly due to Bradford deducted points for salary cap breach.

Richie Mathers' Twitter was interesting last night. Says he knows why the players were so bad last season but nothing to do with Agar.

@RichardMathers:
Don't care what anyone says, HUGE loss to the club, absolutely works his socks off, best rugby brain/knowledge & is an OUTSTANDING coach/man

I'm certainly not blaming Rich Agar. Couldn't have done more. As respected & knowledgeable as I've known amongst players he's ever coached.

Not my job to explain but what I will say is anyone saying 1% negative of Rich Agar are either clueless, ill informed or no idea.

Your completely entitled to your opinion but your so far off the mark. Hell of a lot of reasons but Agar 1000% wasn't one of them.

I appreciate fans who pay their money entitled to opinion BUT in this instance they couldn't be any more wrong if they tried.

Not my place to. All im saying is Rich Agar is a brilliant coach, worked unbelievably hard, players loved him and ANY criticism is WAY off.

I have heard good things that have been said of Agar, LTS. Ultimately the accountability lies with Smith, who people are reluctant to speak badly of based on the success he brought.

I don’t hold anything against either but I do feel that a clean sweep should have been initiated sooner. We had a great era that had come to an end and something needed to be done. That’s sport.

The new regime may or may not emulate the successes of the last, but that doesn’t alter the fact that a big change was needed. We were declining fast and very nearly ended up being relegated. I don’t think we would ever challenge seriously again under the current management, unfortunately.

Thanks for all the memories TS and RA. Nice to part on good terms.

Sorry just to be clear, all them quotes are from Mathers not from me.

Something doesn't add up then if this is to be believed. If he is such an outstanding coach, why were we garbage this year? Remember London away anyone?

We were already on the slide before Agar arrived.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.

OK fair enough, on that premise, this opens 2 questions

1. Why could he not arrest the slide?
2. What caused the slide?

1. Smiths recruitment
2. Smiths recruitment

Maybe Agar just got a raw deal at Warrington with the hand he was dealt.

History does suggest he is a specialist in failure though... Even if the lads do think he is great.

If he was that good and the players think so highly of him why is he not being named as the new coach, he arrived mid slump and both he and TS couldn't address this. His rugby brain cant have been as good as other prior to his arrival as we played lower standard of rugby. We did however get to two final and win the LLS with him in the mix?

Overall he came with a less than glowing record and he left with the same.

There's obviously multiple things not right, and without being on the inside, I don't know, but one of the obvious ones - losing TOP quality playing (and dressing room) personnel, and never truly replacing the hole they left.

2012 3rd, GF + CC Win
2013 2nd, GF
Lose Briers, Morley + Hodgson
2014 5th
Lose M.Monas
2015 6th



Only hypothesising - but slotting into an established regime. Perhaps if Agar had replaced an outgoing TS, along with a bit of a squad clear-out, it would have been easier to steer the ship?

We finished SL 2nd in 2012.

Lose Briers, Morley + Hodgson - this had a huge impact. And let's be honest, we haven't replaced any of them with the same standard.

Be interesting to hear the views of the players who left under a cloud while Smith was here. Likewise Ben Harrison of which things have never been explained.

We had a winning culture, which disappeared when a huge chunk of that culture left.

We now have a culture we need shut of. We all know big changes are required, which includes an overhaul of both squad and coaching staff. If that means loyal, well liked, hard working people such as Penny, Blythe, Sims, or (going off Mather's comments) Agar, have to move on, then it's unfortunate but necessary.

Maybe Agar was wrong place, wrong time, maybe he wasn't good enough, maybe we'd have been in relegated if not for him. Who knows.

With that, I'm glad Agar has a new coaching role in Aus to head off to, and I wish him + his family good luck and all the best.

As an outsider the treatment of Brett Hodgson and in different ways Penny and Harrison have always puzzled me. And without any explanation left me concerned at the time.