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BRIAN Smith claims he has removed the rotten culture that has dogged the Roosters for the past four years.
Contracted until 2013, Smith said he was prepared to put his future on the line with a group of young players following the cleaning out of bad boys Todd Carney, Anthony Watts, Nate Myles and Willie Mason.
Smith also admitted that he was under pressure to return the 2010 grand finalists to the top eight.
Asked about the alleged "rotten culture" that shadowed the club as they plummeted to 11th place last season, Smith said: "It is pretty easy to see what we have done about it.
"I reckon we now have a really long squad of players that have tremendous attitudes and really big futures. "They will work hard and I think we have assembled a young team, with robust attitudes, that will represent this club and do them proud.
"To be honest, I am very excited about it.
"I think it (Carney's departure) has been done to death, but there was certainly some stuff there last year that was a disappointment for us.
"We had to get over it and move forward and it won't be an issue.
"Football players forget about things that happened yesterday, so I don't think they will worry about things from last year.
"They have turned their heads and focused very quickly. They know what they have to do, and if they don't they will be left behind. We are all trained up and there is no one here at our club that I feel like I have to address."
THE FUTURE
SMITH, 57, claims he is as motivated as ever but understands the Roosters' desire for success.
"My motivation is just fine," Smith said.
"I fired up when I was a young fella and I am still firing up as an old fella. Footy is what I have been doing for as long as I can remember and it is great passion for me.
"It is a fantastic way to live your life and I enjoy it as much as ever.
"There is a small proportion of the time when it is a bit hard, a bit ugly, but it is well worth it.
"I think there is pressure on me. There has been for the past 20 years and that hasn't changed. Pressure goes with the position.
"I am not worried about all that (talk about his future). I am just getting us ready for this season."
FINALS FOOTY
SMITH remains adamant the top-eight is firmly in his sights for 2012.
"There is no one that doesn't set their goal to make the top eight and we are no different," Smith said.
"I reckon we will be aim- ing for at least the top eight and everyone in our club will be setting themselves for that as a goal.
"I think we have a good balance in our squad and a lot of versatility. We have a number of players that can play more than one position."
JASON RYLES
THE former Test prop signed a one-year deal with the Melbourne Storm last week and Smith denied rumours that he forced Ryles out the door with one-year to run on his deal.
"Rylesy made the call to move on," Smith said.
"That was his call.
"It was a tough discussion because he was a very valuable member of our squad and he was a great help."
MATT ELLIOTT
SMITH also doused water on any suggestion that Matt Elliott was waiting in the wings to take his job.
He says he played a big part in bringing the fallen Penrith coach to the Roosters.
"I have known Matt for a long time and he indicated to us that he was keen to stay in footy and he wanted a break from the head-coaching duties," Smith said.
"It was an easy decision. It was great to catch up with him and he has been great. He did a bit of an audit on us at the end of last year and he has walked in ready to go. The boys will get plenty out of him as the year goes on."
Interesting read, it's good to finally have some Roosters related news. I can't wait for 2012 to start (only 4 months to go
) i'm already getting some serious withdrawl symptoms.
Contracted until 2013, Smith said he was prepared to put his future on the line with a group of young players following the cleaning out of bad boys Todd Carney, Anthony Watts, Nate Myles and Willie Mason.
Smith also admitted that he was under pressure to return the 2010 grand finalists to the top eight.
Asked about the alleged "rotten culture" that shadowed the club as they plummeted to 11th place last season, Smith said: "It is pretty easy to see what we have done about it.
"I reckon we now have a really long squad of players that have tremendous attitudes and really big futures. "They will work hard and I think we have assembled a young team, with robust attitudes, that will represent this club and do them proud.
"To be honest, I am very excited about it.
"I think it (Carney's departure) has been done to death, but there was certainly some stuff there last year that was a disappointment for us.
"We had to get over it and move forward and it won't be an issue.
"Football players forget about things that happened yesterday, so I don't think they will worry about things from last year.
"They have turned their heads and focused very quickly. They know what they have to do, and if they don't they will be left behind. We are all trained up and there is no one here at our club that I feel like I have to address."
THE FUTURE
SMITH, 57, claims he is as motivated as ever but understands the Roosters' desire for success.
"My motivation is just fine," Smith said.
"I fired up when I was a young fella and I am still firing up as an old fella. Footy is what I have been doing for as long as I can remember and it is great passion for me.
"It is a fantastic way to live your life and I enjoy it as much as ever.
"There is a small proportion of the time when it is a bit hard, a bit ugly, but it is well worth it.
"I think there is pressure on me. There has been for the past 20 years and that hasn't changed. Pressure goes with the position.
"I am not worried about all that (talk about his future). I am just getting us ready for this season."
FINALS FOOTY
SMITH remains adamant the top-eight is firmly in his sights for 2012.
"There is no one that doesn't set their goal to make the top eight and we are no different," Smith said.
"I reckon we will be aim- ing for at least the top eight and everyone in our club will be setting themselves for that as a goal.
"I think we have a good balance in our squad and a lot of versatility. We have a number of players that can play more than one position."
JASON RYLES
THE former Test prop signed a one-year deal with the Melbourne Storm last week and Smith denied rumours that he forced Ryles out the door with one-year to run on his deal.
"Rylesy made the call to move on," Smith said.
"That was his call.
"It was a tough discussion because he was a very valuable member of our squad and he was a great help."
MATT ELLIOTT
SMITH also doused water on any suggestion that Matt Elliott was waiting in the wings to take his job.
He says he played a big part in bringing the fallen Penrith coach to the Roosters.
"I have known Matt for a long time and he indicated to us that he was keen to stay in footy and he wanted a break from the head-coaching duties," Smith said.
"It was an easy decision. It was great to catch up with him and he has been great. He did a bit of an audit on us at the end of last year and he has walked in ready to go. The boys will get plenty out of him as the year goes on."
Interesting read, it's good to finally have some Roosters related news. I can't wait for 2012 to start (only 4 months to go
) i'm already getting some serious withdrawl symptoms.
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