The Rebuilder is gone - now lets look at his achievements

[Serc]

Before I start, no this thread is not entirely trying to stick it up you know who (but that is part of it, as is obvious)

Its main intention is to look at some of the positives, the achievements that Smith made through his contributions to our club over the past 3 years. I am well aware of the things that didn't work out so well during this time...BUT I feel there has been too much of an examination of these things rather than being a bit more balanced.

I think we can put most of the negativity down to our form of late (hell I was pretty grumpy too) but with everyone elses help, I'd like to draw attention to some of the achievements. I'll start off with one:

Who would've thought that beginning with a team that had A Johns and D Buderus playing in it (and relying on them for everything) at the beginning of 2007, Smithy (and our other staff) managed to build a team since then that has been able to beat the Melbourne Storm twice in the last 12 months WITHOUT both of those players? Some might suggest we should've beaten them 3 times perhaps

 

[Spike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4OZCT42TYI

On par with this completely irrelevant Elvis imitation

 

[Serc]

Thanks Spikey great start!

 

[K-Man]

1. Taking a gamble on journeymen/underachievers such as Taia, Fa'aoso, and Hilder and helping them turn into really top-shelf forwards. Taia in particular has become one of the best 10 forwards in the game in my opinion. He is consistenly one of the best players on the field, balancing high work rate with a plethora of tackle breaks and the odd touch of neat ball-playing flair.

2. Putting a squad together that genuinely play as a team and are more than capable of winning on any given day no matter how many players are ruled out with injury. Even with key players missing we are still always a chance due to the fact the whole team shares the load quite evenly and attacking threats can begin from anywhere e.g. the number of tries and even try assists from our prop rotation is remarkable.

3. Kurt Gidley moving to fullback and becoming one of the game's most valuable players.

 

[roopy]

Kurt Gidley is the number one player who has benefitted from Smith, but all he did was let Kurt play his natural game and stop trying to do things he wasn't much good at.
Almost all the young guys in firstgrade have improved to some degree under Smith.

The scheme to put players into local sides will be a real winner in future years.

We have gone from the worst training and coaching setup in the NRL to a middle range setup.

Our juniors are having a lot more money spent on them, and it should start paying dividends now that we have given up on buying 16-19 year olds from everywhere but the Hunter.

 

[Pika]

Kurt Gidley is the number one player who has benefitted from Smith, but all he did was let Kurt play his natural game and stop trying to do things he wasn't much good at.
Almost all the young guys in firstgrade have improved to some degree under Smith.

The scheme to put players into local sides will be a real winner in future years.

We have gone from the worst training and coaching setup in the NRL to a middle range setup.

Our juniors are having a lot more money spent on them, and it should start paying dividends now that we have given up on buying 16-19 year olds from everywhere but the Hunter.

Are you referring to facilities roop?

 

[roopy]

Are you referring to facilities roop?

Obviously i'm only going on newspaper reports, but i believe both the facilities and the personnell available have been upgraded from the bare minimum to 'competitive' standards.

 

[antonius]

Obviously i'm only going on newspaper reports, but i believe both the facilities and the personnell available have been upgraded from the bare minimum to 'competitive' standards.

From what I recall that was going on prior to Smith coming here.

 

[cram]

I think that more money was made available that coincided with his arrival.

 

[roopy]

From what I recall that was going on prior to Smith coming here.

Everyone from Tyler to Burraston to the chairman of Wests deserve some credit, but Smith would have been pushing hard as well, so he deserves his share of the credit.

 

[Yosh]

He does persist with some nuffies though... Lulia, Wes etc..

 

[Pika]

Yeah, they are much better now.

I think the push started with Hagan and Sarg.

But Smith demanded it and got the gear required.

I imaine what we have is up there with most Clubs now.

 

[Alex28]

Given all the injuries we have on a traditional annual basis maybe we need some of that fancy oxygen stuff that the Tiges and the Eagles are on

 

[roopy]

On Knights playing in the local comp - I see that many, if not most, of our NYC team have played games in the local comp, and a few weeks ago we had this Roberts Puliuvea kid come out of the local comp to play NYC.
The way I see it, all our NYC players who grow too old next year can keep playing in the local comp if they want, and they will not be lost to the Knights, meaning a guy like Wyborn for instance might not be a Knights contracted player next year, but if he puts in the work he might find himself forcing his way back in.
Over the next few years the local comp should become a lot more professional and a lot stronger, and the Knights should have a bigger pool of players to call on.

 

[Joker's Wild]

On Knights playing in the local comp - I see that many, if not most, of our NYC team have played games in the local comp, and a few weeks ago we had this Roberts Puliuvea kid come out of the local comp to play NYC.
The way I see it, all our NYC players who grow too old next year can keep playing in the local comp if they want, and they will not be lost to the Knights, meaning a guy like Wyborn for instance might not be a Knights contracted player next year, but if he puts in the work he might find himself forcing his way back in.
Over the next few years the local comp should become a lot more professional and a lot stronger, and the Knights should have a bigger pool of players to call on.

Just on the local comp feeder setup: Does anyone know how the Knights coaching staff keeps up to date with how our fringe FGers are going? Is there a staff member at every club game to watch the boys go round and judge who will get a shot at FG if injuries occur?

Im just curious as to how it works

 

[Serc]

I'm pretty sure thats how it works more or less - also thanks for your contributions so far guys

 

[Bring it home Knights]

The acievements are cutting the deadwood and bringing in young players that will be able to do the job for years to come.

Improving the overall skill of players has also been a great achievement. Under Hagan we had 2 or 3 forwards that could offload, whilst the others were very one dimensional. We have become a team of players that have improved their skill set, rather than simply relying on Johns and Buderus to create things.

When Smith came here our outside backs had been playing poorly for a couple of years, however now we are spoilt for options in those positions

 

[Hanscholo]

Smith's impact was overwhelmingly positive, end of story. I have moved on.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

He kicked the club up the a### big time. Sacked salary cap hogs like reynoldson who proved he was a glorified reserve grader. Our mentality has changed to a winning is everything one and he has shown that people have very short memories. We lost two of the greatest players in history for two seasons in a row. Name another club that would cope with that. I applaud the genius of Brian Smith as an innovator without peer. The Roosters will give him his maiden premiership. I have no doubt. I for one will be on my feet applauding when it happens, as long as we aren't the losers. There are limits.

 

[Yosh]

I think overall he has done well.

However simply put we didnt make the finals while he was here.

Sure looking back we have a more complete squad who in essence have amounted to you know not much?

HOWEVER I could say the foundations have been set. We do have a team who possibly with a few key signings could do the job next year.

1. Kidley
2. New and Improved Uate
3. Junior 'I learnt how to pass in the offseason' Sau
4. Mark Gaz (Gets bored of union and joins us virutally for free)
5. Vuna
6. Mullen
7. Tim Smith
8. The more leaner and more improved Wicks
9. Put your hands up
10. QLD rep Faas
11. Zeb 'I made more metres sideways against the Storm than anyone in history' Taia
12. Patto
13. House

We got it!