This might be the best bet if it is to be him. Smiths last RL job was at the Roosters (who are the NRL team i follow) where he started off well getting them to the grand final in 2010 but in the following two years they got progressively worse and worse and were a bit of a basket case when the sacked him at the end of the 2012 season. Trent Robinson took over for the following season, sorted out the recruitment and put new structures in place and they finished top and won the grand final. Smith certainly has the past record and he could work as a short term fix but i would be wary about going with him long term. Personally i would also go down the british coach route, or at least British based.

Does anyone know if players ever have any say in the appointing of a new coach?

I hope not.

I think they may have had a say in Websters appointment (at least the ones who were here last season) and look where that got us.

Ohhh ok that's interesting, just wondered if anyone knew of it actually playing a part in building a successful club/team somewhere else, given the fact that they are the ones who are actually playing under him etc, and if it's a majority that do want a particular person, then it all goes t**s up, then they've only got themselves to blame!

Encourage but there are a couple of names there where I would have to remove my Wakey Trin tattoo if they were to become coach.

If Bobby Goulding gets the job Id have to gouge it out with a blunt screwdriver

I'm looking at this in a terribly simplistic way, I'm guessing our new coach might be an Aussie/Kiwi, if we were gonna appoint a British coach it wouldn't take another "5 days" (quoting MC on Twitter here)to sign him up, the only way it could drag on for nearly two weeks is if he's to travel over for a press conference.

That would be up to MC.

If he values the opinion of a couple of the senior players then, why wouldn't he run a couple of names past them, especially if certain players have worked with said coach(s) in the past.
There's nothing wrong with taking somebody's opinion.

It seems reasonable for any club chairman to take some input from the senior players when appointing a new head coach.

That's fair enough.

Got to be Neil Kelly for me

With regard to MM getting the gig that would really worry me. The thought of us being some newbie to coaching's experiment is not something I'd be happy about.

At a time like this we need someone with experience and a track record. Former players can arrive and have immediate respect but that can soon be lost if they can't enforce discipline and a team spirit. I'd much rather people's first experience of coaching is at a lower league level where they can test themselves. Okay, Wane and Cunningham aren't doing so bad but they already had the infrastructure and a successful squad to start with. We don't have that support network or the time.

I want an established coach who knows how to develop a game plan and handle the different characters you get in a dressing room.

The thought of Paul Cooke (some experience and not successful this year) or Thorman sounds like people chancing their arm. Are they really contenders?

Hope we have an appointment early next week so he can have time enough to prepare for one of the biggest home matches of the season.

I'd rather he takes his time over this

The whole point of this is to be prepared for the middle 8.
If we lose every other game of the main season and win every one of the middle 8 games I'll be happy.
Clearly the 2 are not mutually exclusive

If I applied for a job today and was given it within a few days I'd doubt the credibility of the company to do correct due diligence.
I'd at least expect them to talk to everybody who applied and then bring the preferred options back to present what they intend to do.
I'd even give them a run through the issues that Webster had and ask them to explain what they would do instead, with the benefit of hindsight too.

The only problem is, can MC chose correctly. If I were him I'd get help. He seems to be well liked by the other Chairmen, he needs to use those contacts. I think I'd be asking other people to help him choose, whether they are currently in the game or not. I'd use both Hetheringtons if I could.

Last post makes a lot of sense..

Someone must have hijacked his account

Ouch PHe

I would love Jason Demetriou to be available and prepared to take this on. Keep hoping that his 5 day lull on twitter is related?

Brian Smith a week ago.

Brian Smith what a week ago ?

Brian Smith signed a week ago?
I've a wife who talks like this so I'm pretty good at filling in the blanks!

She's not missing out words. She's swearing at you under her breath.

Oh I know that, as I said I'm good at filling in the blanks.

Hard lines mate - they're the worst kind.

"Your tea's ready"
"Your washing's done"
"You watch telly while I wash up"

Not always.

Have you married a Stepford wife?

If it is someone with some pulling power it would be a coup if the club could announce it on Sunday over the P.A system and live on Sky.
Good bit of PR that.