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Shannon McDonnell hopes to join Smith again one day
BY ROBERT DILLON
KNIGHTS fullback Shannon McDonnell hopes this will not be his last season playing under Brian Smith's coaching.
McDonnell joined the Knights in May after securing a release from Wests Tigers and has struck up an immediate affinity with Smith, who will be linking with the Roosters at season's end.
McDonnell is yet to decide where he will play next year but denied he was considering joining Smith at Bondi Junction.
"Obviously I've loved my time with Brian Smith since I've been here and I really like the way he coaches," McDonnell said. "I really respect him. He gives you a lot of free rein and he's been good for me, so I definitely hope it's not the last time I work for Brian Smith in my career.
"In saying that, I haven't made any plans to chase him to the Roosters or anything like that.
"But I definitely would like to work with Brian again."
The respect is obviously mutual, judging by Smith's comments at a media conference yesterday.
"Shannon's a terrific young man who's really fitted into our club. The boys love him and I've got to say I love coaching him," Smith said.
"I think he's a really good competitor, he's fun to be around, and he's done the business on the field, which is the bit that matters.
"Doing well enough to make us consider using Kurt [Gidley] in another position shows the really high standard that he's got to in recent weeks."
Asked whether he would like to take McDonnell to the Roosters, Smith replied: "I haven't thought about that."
McDonnell's agent, Steve Gillis, indicated there had been interest from rival clubs in his 21-year-old client but "none whatsoever" from the Roosters.
"I've had a look at the Roosters' roster, and they've got Sam Perrett and Anthony Minichiello, who are both internationals, so they're a bit top-heavy," Gillis said.
Meanwhile, Smith has laughed off claims by Roosters coach Brad Fittler that Newcastle "sacrificed" last week's game against Manly to focus on tomorrow night's clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
"I am convinced he sacrificed a possible win against Manly by resting [Jarrod] Mullen and [Kurt] Gidley and I expect them to be back against us and 100 per cent," Fittler said.
Smith indicated he did not take Fittler's comments seriously, saying, "Freddy's either sitting back having a good old laugh" or "he's trying to find an edge".
BY ROBERT DILLON
KNIGHTS fullback Shannon McDonnell hopes this will not be his last season playing under Brian Smith's coaching.
McDonnell joined the Knights in May after securing a release from Wests Tigers and has struck up an immediate affinity with Smith, who will be linking with the Roosters at season's end.
McDonnell is yet to decide where he will play next year but denied he was considering joining Smith at Bondi Junction.
"Obviously I've loved my time with Brian Smith since I've been here and I really like the way he coaches," McDonnell said. "I really respect him. He gives you a lot of free rein and he's been good for me, so I definitely hope it's not the last time I work for Brian Smith in my career.
"In saying that, I haven't made any plans to chase him to the Roosters or anything like that.
"But I definitely would like to work with Brian again."
The respect is obviously mutual, judging by Smith's comments at a media conference yesterday.
"Shannon's a terrific young man who's really fitted into our club. The boys love him and I've got to say I love coaching him," Smith said.
"I think he's a really good competitor, he's fun to be around, and he's done the business on the field, which is the bit that matters.
"Doing well enough to make us consider using Kurt [Gidley] in another position shows the really high standard that he's got to in recent weeks."
Asked whether he would like to take McDonnell to the Roosters, Smith replied: "I haven't thought about that."
McDonnell's agent, Steve Gillis, indicated there had been interest from rival clubs in his 21-year-old client but "none whatsoever" from the Roosters.
"I've had a look at the Roosters' roster, and they've got Sam Perrett and Anthony Minichiello, who are both internationals, so they're a bit top-heavy," Gillis said.
Meanwhile, Smith has laughed off claims by Roosters coach Brad Fittler that Newcastle "sacrificed" last week's game against Manly to focus on tomorrow night's clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
"I am convinced he sacrificed a possible win against Manly by resting [Jarrod] Mullen and [Kurt] Gidley and I expect them to be back against us and 100 per cent," Fittler said.
Smith indicated he did not take Fittler's comments seriously, saying, "Freddy's either sitting back having a good old laugh" or "he's trying to find an edge".
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