The enigma that is Brian Smith.

[Guest]

Being bored at work I’ve given some thought to our much maligned coach and I think I’ve figured out why Brian hasn’t won a premiership and why, imo, he never will.

Smith is on record as stating he has no defined coaching style, strategy or game plan that he employs or trains his chargers to follow. Rather he prepares his side based on what he perceives are his opposition’s weaknesses, which is different for each team and therefore he has to prepare his team differently each week. This over complicates the game and confuses his players; particularly the less experienced ones as their roles will change from game to game due to Smith’s ever changing game plans. Mortimer confirmed this in a recent interview where he stated the Roosters have a very “adhoc/adlib” approach to games rather than have a tested and refined strategy that the team consistently follows.

It is also a well known fact that Smith’s background is as a school teacher and he prefers to coach younger players as his “school teacher” approach to coaching grates on older, more established players. Whereas the younger guys are more inclined to accept this method of coaching as most of them are fresh out of school anyway and are accustomed to it.

To me these two parts of Smith’s coaching are in direct contrast. School teacher thinking is regimented, structured, refined and based on tried and tested methods that work. Whereas his coaching is the direct opposite of that thinking being adhoc and adlib and changing from week to week.

This contrasting approach can work if the stars/players align ala Parramatta 2001, where he had the perfect balance between power and finesse, speed, youth and experience. The 2001 Eels were downright unstoppable and if it wasn’t for the fact Andrew Johns got a hold of some really energising coke and tore the 2001 GF apart; Smith would have won a title. (Oh by the way mods- John’s admitted to taking coke before that GF in his autobiography). This fluky balance occurred again in 2010 when Smith had Carney and a whole bunch of luck. I’m purposely ignoring 1992-93 as I don’t remember much form back then and can’t comment on the Dragons roster at that time.

The problem I see with Smith is while he’s had two “successes” in the past 10 years getting teams to Grand Final’s, he refuses to refine or learn to coach any other way than he has been for the 26 years he’s been in the game. He stubbornly adheres to his contrasting method of coaching come what may. And that is why I am beginning to believe his coaching approach will never win him a title.

Chook.

[Guest]

Jesus, what's next, all Roosters to take NapLan tests.

I actually heard that the Commie Bitch is going to start up a new website, called "CoachWatch."

[chook 56]

I think it was plainly obvious there was no game plan last weekend.
If we are going to wait on the current two halves to miraculously come up with the game plan, on the spur of a moment, we are well & truly shagged.

[Guest]

Very well thought out and written.

I was always a Smith fan. The guy is a very very good coach he has taken probably close to 10 teams to Grand Final or Prelim Final games only to come up short in a big game. So anyone that says he can't coach are just stupid. The reasons for the losses are some bad luck, he played against some very good teams and his style isn't conducive to winning big games.

The reason why I was a fan was the style he coached. When you watched a Smith team they were always well prepared to play the specific team that week. You could always see a different tactic or style for a different team. He coaches his players to use the ball and play an exciting brand of footy, I love that care free ad lib style. As you saw in 2001 Eels (statistically the best season of all time) and us in 2010. When it comes off it is breathtaking to watch and very hard to stop.

The problem is in big games they are reffed and played differently and it's very hard to play that style in a big games and win. Really teams who don't make mistakes win big games, that's just the way it is. It's a shame because for me he coaches the game the way it should be played. Not boring wrestling and negative tactics that have been introduced by Melbourne.

I agree Chook the modern game is just trending away from Smith style teams. Smith has to adapt now otherwise he won't be coaching for much longer.

[Guest]

Good post Chook. I totally agree in regards to the game plan. That is fine when you have a Todd Carney style player in your team but when you are relying on the forwards to create second phase play and it fails then the team is clueless, as we saw for the last 2 weeks.

I'm not so sure about the school teacher stuff. It must be almost 30 years since Brian Smith has set foot in a classroom. But perhaps his mindset and attitude remains the same.

[Guest]

I'm not so sure about the school teacher stuff. It must be almost 30 years since Brian Smith has set foot in a classroom. But perhaps his mindset and attitude remains the same.

On that note, I produce another new nickname, for Brian Smith. He is now Mr. Chips. I'm talking the godawful late 60's remake with Peter O'Toole, not the superlative 1939 version with Robert Donat.

[kakaruk]

I think your on the money chook.I got the distinct impression that smith was an observer in the run up to the 2010 grand final and that much of the plays were ad lib and carney love him or hate him is the master of that style of play.I was prepared to give smith the benefit if the doubt last year,injuries,carney,myles etc stuffed up our season big time.But there are worring signs that nothing has changed,one out dummy half runs by backs into forward packs,no attacking set plays,that was blatently obvious against the panthers.ItS only early in the season but if we are going to play ad lib footy you must have a player who can take charge and do that,tigers can they have benji,Hayne can do it and so can carney who have we got that can do the job?

[Guest]

Smith is on record as stating he has no defined coaching style, strategy or game plan that he employs or trains his chargers to follow. Rather he prepares his side based on what he perceives are his opposition’s weaknesses, which is different for each team and therefore he has to prepare his team differently each week. This over complicates the game and confuses his players; particularly the less experienced ones as their roles will change from game to game due to Smith’s ever changing game plans.

If it confuses his players would he have really been able to take teams to two minor premierships, four grand finals and numerous semi-finals? And let's not forget that he has had to turn around clubs that were going terribly: Eels hadn't made the finals for over a decade and were diabolical the two years before Smith took the reigns; Dragons hadn't made the finals for six years; we were the previous year's wooden spooners.

I’m purposely ignoring 1992-93 as I don’t remember much form back then and can’t comment on the Dragons roster at that time.

Unfortunately, I'm old enough to easily remember it. Let me tell you, at the beginning of 1992 no one expected that Dragons side to get anywhere near a grand final let alone make two consecutive premiership deciders.

The problem I see with Smith is while he’s had two “successes” in the past 10 years

Other than 2001 and 2010, the Eels did win the minor premiership in 2005 and the Knights were looking the goods in 2009 before we derailed their season by poaching their coach.

[Ray Stehr]

Being bored at work I’ve given some thought to our much maligned coach and I think I’ve figured out why Brian hasn’t won a premiership and why, imo, he never will.

Smith is on record as stating he has no defined coaching style, strategy or game plan that he employs or trains his chargers to follow. Rather he prepares his side based on what he perceives are his opposition’s weaknesses, which is different for each team and therefore he has to prepare his team differently each week. This over complicates the game and confuses his players; particularly the less experienced ones as their roles will change from game to game due to Smith’s ever changing game plans. Mortimer confirmed this in a recent interview where he stated the Roosters have a very “adhoc/adlib” approach to games rather than have a tested and refined strategy that the team consistently follows.

It is also a well known fact that Smith’s background is as a school teacher and he prefers to coach younger players as his “school teacher” approach to coaching grates on older, more established players. Whereas the younger guys are more inclined to accept this method of coaching as most of them are fresh out of school anyway and are accustomed to it.

To me these two parts of Smith’s coaching are in direct contrast. School teacher thinking is regimented, structured, refined and based on tried and tested methods that work. Whereas his coaching is the direct opposite of that thinking being adhoc and adlib and changing from week to week.

This contrasting approach can work if the stars/players align ala Parramatta 2001, where he had the perfect balance between power and finesse, speed, youth and experience. The 2001 Eels were downright unstoppable and if it wasn’t for the fact Andrew Johns got a hold of some really energising coke and tore the 2001 GF apart; Smith would have won a title. (Oh by the way mods- John’s admitted to taking coke before that GF in his autobiography). This fluky balance occurred again in 2010 when Smith had Carney and a whole bunch of luck. I’m purposely ignoring 1992-93 as I don’t remember much form back then and can’t comment on the Dragons roster at that time.

The problem I see with Smith is while he’s had two “successes” in the past 10 years getting teams to Grand Final’s, he refuses to refine or learn to coach any other way than he has been for the 26 years he’s been in the game. He stubbornly adheres to his contrasting method of coaching come what may. And that is why I am beginning to believe his coaching approach will never win him a title.

Chook.

What a load of shite.

[Guest]

Very well thought out and written.

I was always a Smith fan. The guy is a very very good coach he has taken probably close to 10 teams to Grand Final or Prelim Final games only to come up short in a big game. So anyone that says he can't coach are just stupid. The reasons for the losses are some bad luck, he played against some very good teams and his style isn't conducive to winning big games.

The reason why I was a fan was the style he coached. When you watched a Smith team they were always well prepared to play the specific team that week. You could always see a different tactic or style for a different team. He coaches his players to use the ball and play an exciting brand of footy, I love that care free ad lib style. As you saw in 2001 Eels (statistically the best season of all time) and us in 2010. When it comes off it is breathtaking to watch and very hard to stop.

The problem is in big games they are reffed and played differently and it's very hard to play that style in a big games and win. Really teams who don't make mistakes win big games, that's just the way it is. It's a shame because for me he coaches the game the way it should be played. Not boring wrestling and negative tactics that have been introduced by Melbourne.

I agree Chook the modern game is just trending away from Smith style teams. Smith has to adapt now otherwise he won't be coaching for much longer.

That is one excellent post, fitzy. Agree with most of it. As far as whether Smithy's style falls over in big games is concerned, you make a good case, but four grand final losses hardly proves the hypothesis. He does after all have a good record in semi-finals and prelim finals, which are also surely big games. And as for the grand finals, well it's only four games of football, two were against state-of-origin class Brisbane teams, one was against a star-studded Knights team with Johns on fire, and the other was with the previous season's wooden spooners up against a Dragon team brimming with experienced rep players.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I think you're underestimating Smithy - he is a better coach than what your post portrays Chook. No-one would survive at the top level in this elite sport and have the level of success that he has.

Success isnt measured in numbers of premierships....I think way too much emhasis is placed on this. Its a great finish for everyone at a club no doubt...but not everyone gets to climb that mountain...many top coaches have never won a title.

[Ray Stehr]

Once a team makes a GF them the coach has very little to do with the result. It's all the players at that point.

[Guest]

Once a team makes a GF them the coach has very little to do with the result. It's all the players at that point.

That's always been my opinion too. Not much a coach can do in one week. The defensive and offensive approaches have been honed all season. If a club makes it to the last week or two their coaching staff have been on top of things. Big games between two good sides tend to be decided by the performances of their respective key players on the day.

[Guest]

The sooner Smith, his son and that weirdo Elliott leave the club the better off we'll be they haven't got a clue on how to win a comp.We have the slowest backline and the worst 1,6,7,9 in the NRL i pray Politis throws the chequebook at Bellamy.

[Guest]

Once a team makes a GF them the coach has very little to do with the result. It's all the players at that point.

? ?????
Tell that to Bennet who has never last one or tell that to Hasler the veteran who put it over the rookie GF coach last year or tell it to every coach that coaches against Brian Smith in a GF
Of course a coach has plenty to do for a GF the better ones out shine the rest.
Smith has never learned from his losses a bit like Ricky Stuart had his hand held for the first one lost the second learned nothing and kicked on with the third.
Its the stubborn ones who think they know it all that get nowhere.

Our trial form vs current form - in the trials we threw the ball around in the season comp one up one kick and a bomb here and there no set plays for the line just crap.
I can see what Smith does is he like his team starts slowly.
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