Smithy going to the Roosters next season (confirmed)

knight-no-7 said:
Yea, thats what im fearing, another major shake-up.

It'll be impossible for who ever we sign to slot in and work with the current squad, so no doubt they will be changes... lets just hope it aint a repeat of when Brian took over.
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Yeah, pray that next year won't be another 'rebuilding phase' :fist:
 
Untitled23 said:
Why would we need a shake up?

Smith had to come in and fix what Hagan had ****ed up, not the other way around. Whoever comes in next will only reap off the benefits that Smith has left.

If we can get a coach that could do that effectively, then we could be peaking within the next few years.
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Yea, that was my point. But no coach will be 100% satisfied with this side... there will be changes..

Im just not sure others will show the same faith BS has with some players...
 
Why is everyone so angry?

I think this is good for the club personally. Smith has changed a lot of things, bought in new players and developed a top 4 side. He has done the job asked of him.

I ask this however. Is he the man who can take us to a premiership? When it comes down to it he was never going to be here for more than 5 years. That would be silly. He has done his job. Now it is time for someone to come and build on top of what Smith has done.

Names I have heard thus far are Matty Johns and Steve Folkes. Wouldn't mind either. I doubt either Johns brother would want to be sole coach. Folkes would be a very good option aswell.
 
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I don't get it - Smiffy gets his contract at the start of the season, does well, then agrees to Foxtrot Oscar to Sydney. What's going on? Has he got no confidence in his abilities or does he get nosebleeds above a certain point in the league table?
 
Knight's Smith to replace Brad Fittler at the Sydney Roosters
By Barry Toohey and Chris Wilson From: The Sunday Telegraph

NEWCASTLE chairman Robbie Tew was on holidays in South Australia when his phone rang. It was 1.30pm and Brian Smith was about to deliver the news that sent shockwaves through the Knights and the NRL.

Smith told him he wanted out of the Knights, even though he had a year to run on his contract, to sign a four-year deal with the Roosters.

It's understood Newcastle gave the veteran coach a three-week window to explore opportunities - and bang. Brad Fittler, a Roosters legend, was gone and Smith had a $2.4million contract to clean up a club that has become a basket case this season, with a litany of issues on and off the field.

It is the biggest deal in Smith's 25-year coaching career, which started with the Illawarra Steelers in 1984. In that time, the 55-year-old's forte has been resurrecting under-performing clubs like the Roosters - though he's never won a premiership.

"He's contracted next year, but from my point of view, it would be unreasonable to stop him from going,'' Tew said. "He had a deal put to him that we couldn't put to him. We have to go with people who, at the end of the day, want to be here. Brian's done a great job and has still got a job to do until the end of the season.''

Incredibly, Smith spent Friday night at a charity function with most of his Knights players, but captain Kurt Gidley was stunned when The Sunday Telegraph broke the news last night. "I didn't see that coming,'' Gidley said. "What can I say - I'm in shock.''

Smith sent text messages to his Newcastle players last night after the news broke, saying he would address them tomorrow.

When contacted by The Sunday Telegraph last night, Smith played dumb about his deal. "I'm not aware of that, I need to get myself up to speed with all that stuff,'' he said. "I've been watching footy games today and scouting.''

Approached for comment again, Smith then sent a text message, saying: "I will speak to players and staff first but thanks for the opportunity''.

Fittler was considered next to no chance of retaining his job given the dramas within the Roosters camp, culminating with prop Nate Myles disgracing himself two weeks ago in a Central Coast hotel.

The Roosters coach had his own issues a week earlier when he banged on the wrong hotel room in Townsville at 3am, wearing only a pair of shorts. He fined himself $10,000 and apologised.

Politis, who does the hiring and firing at the Roosters, must believe Smith is the type of hardline coach who can turn fortunes around, much the same way he has cleaned out the Knights.

Smith joined Newcastle in 2007 and set about dismantling the player roster in the post-Andrew Johns era. It left him on the nose with a large portion of the playing group and many fans, but the proof is in the pudding with Newcastle challenging for a finals berth this year.

"We're pretty comfortable with the situation,'' Knights CEO Steve Burraston said. "... Brian was the right man for the right time. Going forward we've got a very strong coaching staff there, and there are other people on the market, so we're not overly concerned at this stage.''

It is believed several Roosters players were told of the impending change on Friday but no one in the Newcastle camp had any inkling.

Adam MacDougall said: "I was talking to him last night and he didn't say a word.''

Sunday Tele
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At least he could have let the players know!...before the news broke.
 
pommie_knight said:
I don't get it - Smiffy gets his contract at the start of the season, does well, then agrees to Foxtrot Oscar to Sydney. What's going on? Has he got no confidence in his abilities or does he get nosebleeds above a certain point in the league table?
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What's not to get? He only had 1 year left on his contract... and it's been said that Smith was never a long term option. Then along come the Roosters... who have some good young players and offer him a 4 year deal worth $2.4 million. What's Smith suppose to do? Prolong his stay in Newcastle even though he knows he's not in their long term plans? Smith obviously thought it was a good opportunity and didn't want to knock it back. Who's to say he'd get an opportunity similar to this one next year?
 
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Personally I feel that he has done his job here at the Knights and Easts could use him a lot more and that we, as a whole, should thank him for what he has done, not only for the team, but the club as a whole.

Under BS our club has become a more professional outfit and if it wasn't for him we would still have guys like Perry running out in the red & blue.

Thanks Smithy and good luck (not too much) at the Roosters :applause:
 
Newcastle Forever said:
Personally I feel that he has done his job here at the Knights and Easts could use him a lot more and that we, as a whole, should thank him for what he has done, not only for the team, but the club as a whole.

Under BS our club has become a more professional outfit and if it wasn't for him we would still have guys like Perry running out in the red & blue.

Thanks Smithy and good luck (not too much) at the Roosters :applause:
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Didn't Perry just play in a winning Origin team? I understand that some of the players may have become a little complacent... but a wholesale clearout of locally produced players? BS came to Newcastle for one reason... AJ. Perhaps he saw an opportunity to secure that elusive premiership. He understands one culture... the money culture. The Dragons and the Eels were never short on cash, but here at the Knights and in Newcastle it's a different ball game. BS never understood. I just hope he takes the off-contract driftwood with him to the Roosters. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
 
Liam said:
Rip Taylor back from Wenty for me.
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Yeah, I wouldn't mind Rip.

Stephen Kearney has to be the front runner for me though. He's had tutorage from two of the great modern coaches in Bellamy and Bennett ... plus he's played under Frank Endacott and Chris Anderson. He'll be a great buy.

But if we went with Rip I'd be happy as well. I have to admit he was probably the first guy I thought of.

Either of those two ...
 
I'm only annoyed because i was so comfortable with Smithy coaching us really. No doubt hes done great things for us and has done the hard work in developing a team who originally had no big names but are now a team who easily able to make the top half of the top 8.

Let's just hope whoever we sign to replace Brian can continue what he's started.
 
Woodberry_woodpecker said:
Didn't Perry just play in a winning Origin team? I understand that some of the players may have become a little complacent... but a wholesale clearout of locally produced players? BS came to Newcastle for one reason... AJ. Perhaps he saw an opportunity to secure that elusive premiership. He understands one culture... the money culture. The Dragons and the Eels were never short on cash, but here at the Knights and in Newcastle it's a different ball game. BS never understood. I just hope he takes the off-contract driftwood with him to the Roosters. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
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:):lol:...yes there are a few 'duds' he can take to Bondi...we might even help them pack.
 
Im gutted,here is a great coach that has done so much for us and this happens because people have treated him like ****,this club doesnt know when we have a good thing!!!!!!! remember the **** fight that got him here to the club now we letting him walk out,pretty disappointed
 
Gus' body language on The Sunday Footy Show was interesting...arms crossed defensively...eyes shifting...he knew about this a while ago :lol:
 
Hahaha Yeah. Did you also notice that when they were speaking to Burro he didn't say a word? That's not like Gus.
 
Mr Goanna said:
Gus' body language on The Sunday Footy Show was interesting...arms crossed defensively...eyes shifting...he knew about this a while ago :lol:
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That's why Gus loves him so much, notice he hardly ever raps our players he mostly talks up Smith it's because they're latte sipping bum buddies
 
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i just hope this dosnt have a negative effect on us resigning players for 2011.we have a stack of off contrat guys next year that are heaps close to smithy.
 
I noticed Joey on the footy show a bit angry, just the way he was speaking i can tell he has lost respect for BS
 
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