Lord Tony Smith wrote:
It was always going to end this way the minute we confirmed Price was leaving at the end of the season a month before the season began. The cracks have already started to appear with the King/Price interview after the Swinton game, Widdop and Cooper bollocking each other on Sunday. I think there's a lot of animosity there between the players at the minute and I fear with a heavy defeat on Saturday these cracks will begin to worsen.
In some ways, it will be for the best. The ‘transitional’ period (I know, I hate that term too) needs to begin as soon as possible. Let’s face it, if we’re going to be competitive this year, it will be through individual acts not by some miraculous game plan.
The lack of game plan/creative structure came to light last week, the last play of the game needing a try to level, and we pass three times, no runners, literally nobody other than D Clark, Widdop and Ratchford looking likely to get the ball, only to shovel it out to Mamo with no dummy runners, no bodies in motion, no threat of a kick/inside runner/set play. We got lucky that Sneyd got the tackle all wrong and Connor lost his footing. Without that, that last play is absolutely dreadful.
I wouldn’t be concerned if he left next week and we put an assistant in charge (even if we got a Powell foot soldier, who could relay who’s doing well in training and who needs to be moved on). It could have the effect of letting go of the reigns and seeing what a talented group can do when left to it. That would give Powell a true read of who is rubbish, and who is being held back by the system.
