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Player unrest
Gossip columns have a field day when it comes to Smith and his players. There have been questions raised over captain Braith Anasta's decision to sign with Wests Tigers next year while winger Sam Perrett requested an immediate release to sign with Canterbury.
The latest rumours involve halfback Mitchell Pearce. Only last week, Pearce's manager Mike Newton was forced to deny suggestions the NSW halfback wanted a release so he could join another club next season.
Nevertheless, speculation persists that Pearce is unhappy and wants out. Smith didn't want to give the topic any oxygen.
"Zero (dramas)," Smith said. "Move on. Next question."
Mitchell Pearce
The Roosters No 7 was maligned after his performance for NSW in the State of Origin decider. There has already been talk that he has had enough chances to prove himself in the Origin arena and is under threat to keep his spot next season from Peter Wallace, Kurt Gidley and Adam Reynolds. Smith has been stunned by the attacks.
"I think some of the marking that has been done there is a bit harsh," he said. "It's like trying to find someone to blame and the NSW No 7, whoever his name is, has been the one for quite a while.
"They went within one point of doing it so I don't see that he's got anything other than to be proud of his effort.
"It's time everyone stopped and had a look at when did Darren Lockyer start to dominate. When did Andrew Johns? How old were they when they started to dominate? They were always good players but when did they start to dominate at Origin level?
"He's a young player still, and in terms of Origin footy he's going to have a lot of opportunity to continue to develop his game as one of the real high-quality halfbacks of the game."
His future
It was only two years ago that Smith's move to the Roosters was hailed as a success, and he was seen as a long-term option after the club swept into the grand final and won a swag of Dally M awards.
Having finished 11th last season and sitting in 12th spot with only eight rounds to go before the finals, Smith is under enormous pressure to turn things around.
The veteran coach is off contract at the end of next season and already the vultures are circling, suggesting the club will move in a different direction after that. "I'm happy with my job," Smith said.
"I love what I do. I've got a lot of faith in the guys that we've got in our club. I'm excited about prospects for now as well as for the future."
Politis has been part of the fabric at the Roosters for nearly four decades and there is little that goes on at the club without the chairman's input. The club has already denied that Politis and Smith fell out over the way that Perrett's departure to the Bulldogs was handled following reports the chairman had handled the situation without Smith's knowledge.
"I speak to him two or three times a week even when he's overseas," Smith said.
"Sometimes he's in America, sometimes he's in Greece and recently he's been at Ricko's (Luke Ricketson) wedding in Italy.
"It would be very rare for us not to talk at least a couple of times. Now, let's move on."
Their season
Smith doesn't necessarily agree that the Roosters' season goes on the line against Souths tonight but time is certainly running out. He is still confident that it won't take much for them to turn the corner, and believes they can do some damage if they make the finals.
"We need to get a wriggle on in terms of our development as a team," Smith said. "If we can find the right balance in being able to prepare well from one week to another, and carry that preparation into a game, we've got enough talent in our team to trouble all of the teams in the comp."
Hopefully something good comes out of this...
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/n...-1226426954979
Gossip columns have a field day when it comes to Smith and his players. There have been questions raised over captain Braith Anasta's decision to sign with Wests Tigers next year while winger Sam Perrett requested an immediate release to sign with Canterbury.
The latest rumours involve halfback Mitchell Pearce. Only last week, Pearce's manager Mike Newton was forced to deny suggestions the NSW halfback wanted a release so he could join another club next season.
Nevertheless, speculation persists that Pearce is unhappy and wants out. Smith didn't want to give the topic any oxygen.
"Zero (dramas)," Smith said. "Move on. Next question."
Mitchell Pearce
The Roosters No 7 was maligned after his performance for NSW in the State of Origin decider. There has already been talk that he has had enough chances to prove himself in the Origin arena and is under threat to keep his spot next season from Peter Wallace, Kurt Gidley and Adam Reynolds. Smith has been stunned by the attacks.
"I think some of the marking that has been done there is a bit harsh," he said. "It's like trying to find someone to blame and the NSW No 7, whoever his name is, has been the one for quite a while.
"They went within one point of doing it so I don't see that he's got anything other than to be proud of his effort.
"It's time everyone stopped and had a look at when did Darren Lockyer start to dominate. When did Andrew Johns? How old were they when they started to dominate? They were always good players but when did they start to dominate at Origin level?
"He's a young player still, and in terms of Origin footy he's going to have a lot of opportunity to continue to develop his game as one of the real high-quality halfbacks of the game."
His future
It was only two years ago that Smith's move to the Roosters was hailed as a success, and he was seen as a long-term option after the club swept into the grand final and won a swag of Dally M awards.
Having finished 11th last season and sitting in 12th spot with only eight rounds to go before the finals, Smith is under enormous pressure to turn things around.
The veteran coach is off contract at the end of next season and already the vultures are circling, suggesting the club will move in a different direction after that. "I'm happy with my job," Smith said.
"I love what I do. I've got a lot of faith in the guys that we've got in our club. I'm excited about prospects for now as well as for the future."
Politis has been part of the fabric at the Roosters for nearly four decades and there is little that goes on at the club without the chairman's input. The club has already denied that Politis and Smith fell out over the way that Perrett's departure to the Bulldogs was handled following reports the chairman had handled the situation without Smith's knowledge.
"I speak to him two or three times a week even when he's overseas," Smith said.
"Sometimes he's in America, sometimes he's in Greece and recently he's been at Ricko's (Luke Ricketson) wedding in Italy.
"It would be very rare for us not to talk at least a couple of times. Now, let's move on."
Their season
Smith doesn't necessarily agree that the Roosters' season goes on the line against Souths tonight but time is certainly running out. He is still confident that it won't take much for them to turn the corner, and believes they can do some damage if they make the finals.
"We need to get a wriggle on in terms of our development as a team," Smith said. "If we can find the right balance in being able to prepare well from one week to another, and carry that preparation into a game, we've got enough talent in our team to trouble all of the teams in the comp."
Hopefully something good comes out of this...
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/n...-1226426954979
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