Karmawave
Bench
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- 4,950
Brian Smith has done a good job in coming to a club and making a team competitive that is trying to move forward past the Andrew Johns era. However to suggest he deserves an extension is narrow minded, and fraught with danger.
Since Brian Smith has been in charge of the club, the drop off in success of our junior teams from 16's to NSW Cup has been remarkable. For a team that has always relied on the depth and quality of our juniors, Smiths penchant for buying rejects or what he perceives as a unknown gem cheaply from another club, is only having a detrimental affect on the junior development of the Newcastle Knights.
It is imperative that the next Johns, Gidley or Chief is coming through the ranks of our huge junior base, and developed the same way they have been in the past.
Brian Smith is not the man, does not have the background, or personality, to take an entire club under his wing and build future stars from the age of 16.
Smith has been reluctant in the past to play genuine superstars in the making such as Jarryd Hayne and even our own Fijian flyer Uate. Instead wanting to use players who try hard. Or have a red hot go. Stop gap players who are short term solutions.
That is fair enough to some extent, but that kind of attitude leads to the interest in players such as David Simmons from Cronulla.
Or George Ndaira.
Newcastle needs icon players to promote the brand to this city.
Brian Smith with all his coaching skill is not a good option for the brand of the Newcastle Knights.
His methods of taking rejects from other clubs have had some success, but are not proven to win competitions.
What wins competitions is nurturing juniors and keeping the group together long term.
And that, is the Newcastle way.
Brian Smith, you've done a decent job, but the reality shows that in 2 seasons you have not made the Top 8, have miraculously avoided the wooden spoon in 2007, and are no guarantee of making the Top 8 in 2009, regardless of the optimism that is amongst the fans.
There is as much chance of player fallout with the coach similar to what occurred in 2007 as there is the Knights making the Top 8 in 2009.
Is Smith what we need at the Knights?
If its about rebuilding, you don't rebuild from outside. You rebuild from within. And Smith is not the coach to do that.
Keith Onslow is a decent starting point as development officer, but not the final solution.
The Knights need to give the reins to a young, club orientated coach, in the mould of Ricky Stuart or John Cartwright.
Guys who take as much interest at what is happening at the ground level, as they do with the first grade team.
Given the Knights biggest asset is the size and quality of our juniors, it would be a mistake to leave this area underperforming for longer than it has under Smith.
Brian Smith, thank you for your time, but unless you win the competition in 2009, its been nice having you around, but its time for a new , vibrant coach to take over this club.
For the good of the Newcastle Knights.
Since Brian Smith has been in charge of the club, the drop off in success of our junior teams from 16's to NSW Cup has been remarkable. For a team that has always relied on the depth and quality of our juniors, Smiths penchant for buying rejects or what he perceives as a unknown gem cheaply from another club, is only having a detrimental affect on the junior development of the Newcastle Knights.
It is imperative that the next Johns, Gidley or Chief is coming through the ranks of our huge junior base, and developed the same way they have been in the past.
Brian Smith is not the man, does not have the background, or personality, to take an entire club under his wing and build future stars from the age of 16.
Smith has been reluctant in the past to play genuine superstars in the making such as Jarryd Hayne and even our own Fijian flyer Uate. Instead wanting to use players who try hard. Or have a red hot go. Stop gap players who are short term solutions.
That is fair enough to some extent, but that kind of attitude leads to the interest in players such as David Simmons from Cronulla.
Or George Ndaira.
Newcastle needs icon players to promote the brand to this city.
Brian Smith with all his coaching skill is not a good option for the brand of the Newcastle Knights.
His methods of taking rejects from other clubs have had some success, but are not proven to win competitions.
What wins competitions is nurturing juniors and keeping the group together long term.
And that, is the Newcastle way.
Brian Smith, you've done a decent job, but the reality shows that in 2 seasons you have not made the Top 8, have miraculously avoided the wooden spoon in 2007, and are no guarantee of making the Top 8 in 2009, regardless of the optimism that is amongst the fans.
There is as much chance of player fallout with the coach similar to what occurred in 2007 as there is the Knights making the Top 8 in 2009.
Is Smith what we need at the Knights?
If its about rebuilding, you don't rebuild from outside. You rebuild from within. And Smith is not the coach to do that.
Keith Onslow is a decent starting point as development officer, but not the final solution.
The Knights need to give the reins to a young, club orientated coach, in the mould of Ricky Stuart or John Cartwright.
Guys who take as much interest at what is happening at the ground level, as they do with the first grade team.
Given the Knights biggest asset is the size and quality of our juniors, it would be a mistake to leave this area underperforming for longer than it has under Smith.
Brian Smith, thank you for your time, but unless you win the competition in 2009, its been nice having you around, but its time for a new , vibrant coach to take over this club.
For the good of the Newcastle Knights.
