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Hard calls lift Roosters, not Brian Smith
* Phil Rothfield and Andrew Webster
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* July 30, 2010 12:00AM
WEBBY: You've been itching all week to debate Brian Smith. The Roosters are flying - can Roosters fly? - and you still can't credit the coach. What is doing?
BUZZ: He's doing a really solid job. The team's going gangbusters. I just don't credit him as much as CEO Steve Noyce. Noyce made all the tough calls last year by getting rid of Freddy and Willie. This is why the club has improved, because of the hard calls that were made towards the end of last year.
WEBBY: Full credit to Steve but I'm sure chairman Nick Politis had some say in Freddy departing. I'd also credit Smith for ensuring that Mason was no longer there. Smith said when he first got the gig that Mason was free to leave - and he wasn't sighted at the joint again. The discipline in the club, compared to last year, is why they're firing. That's got everything to do with the coach. I want you to acknowledge it.
BUZZ: Where was that "discipline" last year when two Knights players were allegedly dealing drugs. Give me a break, Webby. My point is this: The Roosters have won nothing yet. Brian Smith has won nothing yet. I've seen a lot of his teams in contention at this stage of a season, only to fall at the last hurdle. Parramatta will thump them on Saturday night - and I'm a bloody good judge. Look at the tipping panel on page 48.
WEBBY: The tipping comp that I have been leading for about six weeks? Dribbler. I don't think you can blame Smith for the drugs charges levelled at Danny Wicks and Chris Houston. I'm sure those reasons will be spelt out in court soon.
BUZZ: I'm not blaming him. I'm saying he was in charge at the time.
WEBBY: How dare you interrupt me. I'm not going to judge Smith's influence on the Roosters on whether they win premiership - or even beat Parra tomorrow night. But that joint was broken last year. What he's done in turning it around - as evidenced in the form of Toddles Carney - is enough already. Even Fittler says Smith is the main reason for the turnaround. And he was punted to make way for him!
BUZZ: Thanks for giving me a turn. To lift a side from the wooden spoon into the position they're in now is top-shelf stuff. But the coach still looks nervous to me. Whenever you see him in the coaching box, he looks like a woman in a labour ward. Always tense. They tell me he's even put himself on a media ban. For Christ's sake, who does he think he is? Wayne Bennett?
WEBBY: I find it hard to believe that a coach would allow himself to get pregnant in the footy season for a start. Maybe after, but not during. All coaches are nutcases. Have you ever met a sane one? He cares about his footy team.
BUZZ: But players get vibes from the head coach and it's always around this time every season that he gets on edge. Maybe he needs one of those Valiums that Jake Friend was handing around.
WEBBY: Give yourself a Valium. And maybe a bottle of Scotch. Then a Red Bull. Mate, you seriously have to rate him as a coach. No premiership, but he's exceptional at making the younger blokes in his squad better. That's a fair gauge of a coach, I reckon, and Smith did it at Newcastle and now he's doing it at the Chookies.
BUZZ: He couldn't recognise Jarryd Hayne when he was coming through as a boom rookie at Parramatta. He didn't rate Clint Newton - he went to Melbourne and won a comp. He didn't rate Josh Perry - he went to Manly and won a comp. He didn't want Kade Snowden at the Knights - he went to Cronulla and played for NSW. Maybe it's wrong, but I judge coaches on their trophy cabinets. I loved Jack Gibson, I admire Wayne Bennett. They have seriously achieved.
WEBBY: I dare say no coach comes close to Jack or Wayne.
BUZZ: Tim Sheens has won four.
WEBBY: Will you shut up? You are setting a high standard. Smith consistently performs and there are plenty of footballers out there who credit him for what they've done in their careers. Why are you such an angry, angry man, especially when it comes to Smith?
BUZZ: You know what? It will be a fairytale story if he can take the Roosters from the wooden spoon to the grand final. Can you imagine all the hype about him trying to win his first grand final? It will be great for the game. And, if the Roosters win the premiership, good luck to him.
WEBBY: Will you run naked from the office here in Surry Hills to Bondi Junction if they do?
BUZZ: Only if I don't have to go up Oxford St.
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This bloke is becoming(already become ?) the joke of rugby league, and a funny one at that. I understand not liking a bloke like Brian, but to go to these lengths is ridiculous. I also like the added bit where he attributes Wicks and Houston's drug dealing to Smith.
You can literally tell this interview was done through gritted teeth.
Edit: Some other added stuff for TOK (should be defending Beetroot shortly).
Smith has never doubted Hayne's ability, but thought he was just a tad too young for grade. In hindsight, he was right, as Hayne (although very exciting) was very erratic at the start of his career, and still is to a degree.
He didn't rate Newton because he isn't very good. Lets face it, Storm would make Hegarty look like a superstar. They too, pissed him off when it came to him asking for more than minimal payments.
Josh Perry had some achievements but is seen as overrated by many, as evidenced in his lacklustre rep performances.
Snowden openly admitted that he was lazy at Newcastle and wasn't going anywhere due to his attitude/lifestyle. Sticky turned his attitude around and even said that it wasn't the easiest thing to do.
I just hope Brian wins a GF either with us or any other club solely because i can see Rothfield's face turning an even brighter shade of red.
* Phil Rothfield and Andrew Webster
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* July 30, 2010 12:00AM
WEBBY: You've been itching all week to debate Brian Smith. The Roosters are flying - can Roosters fly? - and you still can't credit the coach. What is doing?
BUZZ: He's doing a really solid job. The team's going gangbusters. I just don't credit him as much as CEO Steve Noyce. Noyce made all the tough calls last year by getting rid of Freddy and Willie. This is why the club has improved, because of the hard calls that were made towards the end of last year.
WEBBY: Full credit to Steve but I'm sure chairman Nick Politis had some say in Freddy departing. I'd also credit Smith for ensuring that Mason was no longer there. Smith said when he first got the gig that Mason was free to leave - and he wasn't sighted at the joint again. The discipline in the club, compared to last year, is why they're firing. That's got everything to do with the coach. I want you to acknowledge it.
BUZZ: Where was that "discipline" last year when two Knights players were allegedly dealing drugs. Give me a break, Webby. My point is this: The Roosters have won nothing yet. Brian Smith has won nothing yet. I've seen a lot of his teams in contention at this stage of a season, only to fall at the last hurdle. Parramatta will thump them on Saturday night - and I'm a bloody good judge. Look at the tipping panel on page 48.
WEBBY: The tipping comp that I have been leading for about six weeks? Dribbler. I don't think you can blame Smith for the drugs charges levelled at Danny Wicks and Chris Houston. I'm sure those reasons will be spelt out in court soon.
BUZZ: I'm not blaming him. I'm saying he was in charge at the time.
WEBBY: How dare you interrupt me. I'm not going to judge Smith's influence on the Roosters on whether they win premiership - or even beat Parra tomorrow night. But that joint was broken last year. What he's done in turning it around - as evidenced in the form of Toddles Carney - is enough already. Even Fittler says Smith is the main reason for the turnaround. And he was punted to make way for him!
BUZZ: Thanks for giving me a turn. To lift a side from the wooden spoon into the position they're in now is top-shelf stuff. But the coach still looks nervous to me. Whenever you see him in the coaching box, he looks like a woman in a labour ward. Always tense. They tell me he's even put himself on a media ban. For Christ's sake, who does he think he is? Wayne Bennett?
WEBBY: I find it hard to believe that a coach would allow himself to get pregnant in the footy season for a start. Maybe after, but not during. All coaches are nutcases. Have you ever met a sane one? He cares about his footy team.
BUZZ: But players get vibes from the head coach and it's always around this time every season that he gets on edge. Maybe he needs one of those Valiums that Jake Friend was handing around.
WEBBY: Give yourself a Valium. And maybe a bottle of Scotch. Then a Red Bull. Mate, you seriously have to rate him as a coach. No premiership, but he's exceptional at making the younger blokes in his squad better. That's a fair gauge of a coach, I reckon, and Smith did it at Newcastle and now he's doing it at the Chookies.
BUZZ: He couldn't recognise Jarryd Hayne when he was coming through as a boom rookie at Parramatta. He didn't rate Clint Newton - he went to Melbourne and won a comp. He didn't rate Josh Perry - he went to Manly and won a comp. He didn't want Kade Snowden at the Knights - he went to Cronulla and played for NSW. Maybe it's wrong, but I judge coaches on their trophy cabinets. I loved Jack Gibson, I admire Wayne Bennett. They have seriously achieved.
WEBBY: I dare say no coach comes close to Jack or Wayne.
BUZZ: Tim Sheens has won four.
WEBBY: Will you shut up? You are setting a high standard. Smith consistently performs and there are plenty of footballers out there who credit him for what they've done in their careers. Why are you such an angry, angry man, especially when it comes to Smith?
BUZZ: You know what? It will be a fairytale story if he can take the Roosters from the wooden spoon to the grand final. Can you imagine all the hype about him trying to win his first grand final? It will be great for the game. And, if the Roosters win the premiership, good luck to him.
WEBBY: Will you run naked from the office here in Surry Hills to Bondi Junction if they do?
BUZZ: Only if I don't have to go up Oxford St.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This bloke is becoming(already become ?) the joke of rugby league, and a funny one at that. I understand not liking a bloke like Brian, but to go to these lengths is ridiculous. I also like the added bit where he attributes Wicks and Houston's drug dealing to Smith.
You can literally tell this interview was done through gritted teeth.
Edit: Some other added stuff for TOK (should be defending Beetroot shortly).
Smith has never doubted Hayne's ability, but thought he was just a tad too young for grade. In hindsight, he was right, as Hayne (although very exciting) was very erratic at the start of his career, and still is to a degree.
He didn't rate Newton because he isn't very good. Lets face it, Storm would make Hegarty look like a superstar. They too, pissed him off when it came to him asking for more than minimal payments.
Josh Perry had some achievements but is seen as overrated by many, as evidenced in his lacklustre rep performances.
Snowden openly admitted that he was lazy at Newcastle and wasn't going anywhere due to his attitude/lifestyle. Sticky turned his attitude around and even said that it wasn't the easiest thing to do.
I just hope Brian wins a GF either with us or any other club solely because i can see Rothfield's face turning an even brighter shade of red.
very good!!
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