Smith quits Tomohawks coaching job
By Ian Laybourn
AAP
9:32pm Thursday 3rd October 2013
The United States squad is in disarray only weeks out from the start of the rugby league World Cup after head coach Brian Smith reportedly quit.
Fairfax Media is reporting on Thursday night that former NRL coach Smith has resigned due to a family matter.
He is the second coach to withdraw from the job after current Warriors coach Matthew Elliott left in August.
"There's just been something come up that I really couldn't miss, unfortunately," Smith said.
Despite the coaching drama, United States selectors named their 24-man World Cup squad on Thursday.
Former Hull KR favourite Clint Newton and ex-Castleford half-back Ryan McGoldrick, who was on Thursday released by Salford, are among those named in the squad, which contains 10 players born in America.
Newton, who was born in South Carolina while his golfing father Jack was competing in the 1981 US Open, spent four seasons with Hull KR before returning to his Australian club Penrith for 2012.
Captain Joseph Paulo, 25, and older brother Junior are among the NRL-based players.
The Tomahawks are due to play a warm-up match against France in Toulouse on October 18 before opening their campaign against Cook Islands at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol, on October 30. They also play Wales and Scotland in their first World Cup.
Squad: Mark Cantoni (Dalby), Andrew Durutalo (USA Eagles), Bureta Faraimo (Mackay Cutters), Gabriel Farley (Southampton Dragons), Kristian Freed (Connecticut Wildcats), Mike Garvey (Ipswich Jets), Roman Hifo (Mangere East Hawks, New Zealand), Danny Howard (Wentworthville), Stephen Howard (Tuggeranong Vikings), Luke Hume (New York Knights), Judah Lavulo (Cabramatta), Joel Luani (Wests Tigers), David Marando (Belrose), Ryan McGoldrick (Salford), Clint Newton (Penrith), Mark Offerdahl (Connecticut Wildcats), Joseph Paulo (Penrith, capt), Junior Paulo (Parramatta), Craig Priestly (Southampton Dragons), Matt Petersen (Cudgen Hornets), Tui Samoa (Redcliffe Dolphins), Matt Shipway (Newcastle), Les Soloai, Lelauloto Tagaloa (Hawaii Chiefs).
Link:
http://www.nrl.com/smith-quits-tomohawks-coaching-job/tabid/10874/newsid/74959/default.aspx
