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Incoming Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith says Phil Gould will not be coach
By Andrew Webster
July 24, 2009 Incoming Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has buried the notion he will be a puppet for Phil Gould next year with one sharp remark: "I can assure you I will be coaching the Roosters - Phil Gould won't be."
Smith has also told controversial forward Willie Mason he is free to leave whenever he wants.
"If Willie decided he was moving on, I wouldn't be feeling like there was a massive hole there or I didn't want to coach because I'd lost a big-time player," he said.
Smith remains firmly focused on leading Newcastle Knights to a premiership despite the announcement on Monday of his shock departure.
Newcastle play Manly at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Friday night. But murmurs continue about his imminent arrival at Bondi Junction and his relationship with Gould.
Many believe the former Roosters coach advised chairman Nick Politis to entice Smith to the club.
His praise of Smith over the years has been effusive, and more so since his appointment.
"A coup," is how he described Smith's signing. Yet Smith insists they are acquaintances at best and will not be influenced by Gould.
"We're not enemies, but we're definitely not close friends either," he said. "I can assure you I will be coaching the Roosters Phil Gould won't be. He will not be.
"I would like to think I'll bounce ideas off him, as I've done when I've been at other clubs. I know he has some great friendships with the chairman and with other people associated with the Roosters. (But) if my views about where we are heading or not are different to his ... well, they'll be different to his."
Smith was also blunt about Mason's future in the tri-colour jumper. The former representative star has regularly denied he wants an early release to accept a lucrative deal playing rugby in Japan.
Behind the scenes, some Roosters officials say they want him gone because he is divisive influence.
"My understanding is Willie is considering all options at the moment," Smith said.
"And my only comment to Mr Politis and Steve Noyce was it would not faze me one way or the other (if Mason left).
"If Willie decided he was moving on, I wouldn't be feeling like there was a massive hole there or I didn't want to coach because I'd lost a big-time player."
Following the Roosters' loss to the Warriors last Sunday, it was noted how glowing Mason was in his praise of his incoming coach.
"I've only had him once and that was a quick camp and we got beat," said Mason, who played under Smith for Country Origin in 2003.
"But he has always been pretty positive towards me. I think when he was at Parramatta and I was at the Dogs, he'd always shake hands with me after a game and say, 'Well done', or earlier this year after the Knights flogged us, he said, 'Keep your head up and things will turn around'."
But other Roosters players will be pleased to know that Smith does not intend to make the same sweeping changes next year as he did in his first season at the Knights.
"For next year, most of those guys have been told what their status is and most of them are on longer-term deals and young enough to make me excited about prospects of dealing with a young team," he said.
Smithy pushing Willie out the door
Love it
No Over Priced Dud Buys with Smithy on board
We will be competitive again in no time
As I have said for ages winning a gf is all about getting value for money out of your squad
Incoming Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith says Phil Gould will not be coach
By Andrew Webster
July 24, 2009 Incoming Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has buried the notion he will be a puppet for Phil Gould next year with one sharp remark: "I can assure you I will be coaching the Roosters - Phil Gould won't be."
Smith has also told controversial forward Willie Mason he is free to leave whenever he wants.
"If Willie decided he was moving on, I wouldn't be feeling like there was a massive hole there or I didn't want to coach because I'd lost a big-time player," he said.
Smith remains firmly focused on leading Newcastle Knights to a premiership despite the announcement on Monday of his shock departure.
Newcastle play Manly at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Friday night. But murmurs continue about his imminent arrival at Bondi Junction and his relationship with Gould.
Many believe the former Roosters coach advised chairman Nick Politis to entice Smith to the club.
His praise of Smith over the years has been effusive, and more so since his appointment.
"A coup," is how he described Smith's signing. Yet Smith insists they are acquaintances at best and will not be influenced by Gould.
"We're not enemies, but we're definitely not close friends either," he said. "I can assure you I will be coaching the Roosters Phil Gould won't be. He will not be.
"I would like to think I'll bounce ideas off him, as I've done when I've been at other clubs. I know he has some great friendships with the chairman and with other people associated with the Roosters. (But) if my views about where we are heading or not are different to his ... well, they'll be different to his."
Smith was also blunt about Mason's future in the tri-colour jumper. The former representative star has regularly denied he wants an early release to accept a lucrative deal playing rugby in Japan.
Behind the scenes, some Roosters officials say they want him gone because he is divisive influence.
"My understanding is Willie is considering all options at the moment," Smith said.
"And my only comment to Mr Politis and Steve Noyce was it would not faze me one way or the other (if Mason left).
"If Willie decided he was moving on, I wouldn't be feeling like there was a massive hole there or I didn't want to coach because I'd lost a big-time player."
Following the Roosters' loss to the Warriors last Sunday, it was noted how glowing Mason was in his praise of his incoming coach.
"I've only had him once and that was a quick camp and we got beat," said Mason, who played under Smith for Country Origin in 2003.
"But he has always been pretty positive towards me. I think when he was at Parramatta and I was at the Dogs, he'd always shake hands with me after a game and say, 'Well done', or earlier this year after the Knights flogged us, he said, 'Keep your head up and things will turn around'."
But other Roosters players will be pleased to know that Smith does not intend to make the same sweeping changes next year as he did in his first season at the Knights.
"For next year, most of those guys have been told what their status is and most of them are on longer-term deals and young enough to make me excited about prospects of dealing with a young team," he said.
Smithy pushing Willie out the door
Love it
No Over Priced Dud Buys with Smithy on board
We will be competitive again in no time
As I have said for ages winning a gf is all about getting value for money out of your squad
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