Pressure makes the man. It can make you or it can break you. In the wonderful world of the National Rugby League, pressure wakes up with you every morning.
The 2012 season is coming and one coach will either take the pressure and prosper or he will die on his sword.
Being a head coach in the NRL is something only a handful of people can truly understand. They, of course, are the coaches themselves. When a team is sinking, it is usually the coach who walks the plank first. The very definition of a sporting scapegoat.
Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith will be feeling the pinch if his side struggles early in the season. Smith is such a perfectionist that everything must be his way.
History supports this when you look at the overhauls he has made at his previous clubs. Its his way or the highway. Unfortunately for Smith, the premiership he truly craves hasn’t come.
Smith is a smart man and knew times were changing when he left the St George Dragons for Parramatta in the mid 1990’s. He got out of Kogarah before he was pushed.
The pattern continued at both Parramatta and later the Newcastle Knights where he quit both clubs.
In his first year at the Bondi glamour club, Smith or more to the point, Todd Carney took the Roosters all the way to the grand final.
Smith knows he is in the hot seat in 2012.
“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,” he said late last year.
“I am not worried about all that (talk about his future). I am just getting us ready for this season.”
Behind all the subtle charisma and calmness is a professionally crazed man who knows that only wins early in the season will keep him in the top job at the Sydney Football Stadium. Roosters chairman Nick Politis is a friend. But friendship doesn’t matter when the losses begin to stack up.
Politis is a man driven by success and without success, Smith doesn’t have a job.
The scary part for Smith is the fact he takes almost the very same squad that failed in 2011 into the new season. Minus Todd Carney, Nate Myles, Jason Ryles, Kane Linnett and Phil Graham. If anything, the team has gone backwards and they will rely once again on veterans Braith Anasta, Anthony Minichiello and the terrier-like Mitchell Pearce.
These are worrying times for Brian Smith and the Roosters. No doubt things will get tough throughout the year and fingers will be pointed. The problem for Smith is people are ready to point already.
James Maloney will be at the club in 2013 and its almost a fait accompli that Sonny Bill Williams will be there too. But can Smith survive long enough to see these men in the famous tri colours jumper?
Matt
Guest
@Brendan, Brian Smith an eye for talent? When he was at parra he didn't rate Tonga, he let him go and he went on to be an international. At every club Smith has been to he has left a mess for somebody else to clean up. There are worse coaches out there than Smith don't get me wrong but he just seems to make the same mistakes over and over again and doesn't seem to learn from them
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi Curtis, Brian Smith has a 52% win record (from 52 games) with the Roosters which is excellent given they finished only 11th last season largely contributed to the challenges with Todd Carney. I see Smith’s successor as his former assistant Trent Robinson, who was in charge of the Roosters defence when they played in the Grand Final only two seasons back and has since enhanced his reputation as Les Catalans boss. Craig Fitzgibbon and Mat Elliott will be great as the communication link between player and head coach, while Jason Taylor looks much more comfortable bringing the under 21 kids through to top grade. Smith’s biggest problem is a political one which is forcing him to play two Roosters hero’s when they should be retired long ago. You cannot hide two key position players in 2012 and expect to be in the finals. My views: 1 Anthony Minichiello, doesn’t look dangerous anymore, sad. 2 Peni Tagive, handy off season buy. 3 Tautau Moga, future super star, could be anything. 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, no injuries, should go better. 5 Sam Perrett, reads defence pooly. 6 Braith Anasta, past his best, 2012 has to be his last. 7 Mitch Pearce, great club halfback, but failed to improve. 8 Martin Kennedy, wonderful future, a maroon in waiting. 9 Jake Friend, fabulous but like to see more in attack. 10 Mose Masoe, can be imposing but needs work on his defence. 11 Aidan Guerra, much better than I thought. 12 Mitch Aubusson, go well with no injuries 13 Boyd Cordner, could be a rep player this year. 15 Lama Tasi, Future star, this could be his year. 16 Anthony Cherrington, look out when he is 100% fit. A star. 17 Tinirau Arona, set for a big 2012
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Agree on The Telegraph and Hadley's propaganda. They can be quite annoying and vicious if you offside them.
B.A Sports
The whole "Brian Smith plays mind games with his players" theory, well its not even a thoery, is the biggest load of media driven dribble to come out of the NRL. You forever see the "boozehounds" Rothfield and Ritchie gab on about it and Hadley never liked him because he punted Pat Richards (a family friend) from the Eels all those years back. So Smith has got a few journos off side and they start telling us players don't like him, even though i have never seen a player, since Smith joined the Eels anyway, come out and complain about him (apart from the odd one or two fringe players who thought they deserved more time in first grade) and Jamie Lyon, who its fair to say isn't the most reputible source when it comes to judging people..
Brendan
Roar Rookie
Brian Smith coached teams are prone to being psychologically weak. He has a creative football mind, great fitness ethics and an eye for talent. His teams have a habit of having one good year, then one bad, so on and so on. I think he plays too many mind games with his players...
Blake
Guest
You also neglected to mention that Craig Fitzgibbon is back at Bondi and coaching the forwards. This impact cannot be underestimated as Fitzy is one the favourite sons there. Smith will no longer have the Carney-Myles booze issues to deal with or Ryles to give away stupid penalties every week. These losses combined with the promising youngsters coming through actually put the Chooks in a better position than last year. I would not say they have gone backwards. Smith will be alright if the team makes the 8.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Smith seems to have the Ricky Stuart effect - first year or so is great, but things go downhill from there. Nick Politis definitely doesnt have the patience for failure - he sacked Graham Murray less than one year after making a grand final, and Ricky Stuart less than two years after making three successive grand finals, winning one. If he has a poor season, I would say the only thing that will save him is that the club seem to be building for 2013 and may not want to destabilise. Maybe.
Todd Slater
Guest
Probably not. One thing you fail to mention is that apart from Chris Anderson, no coach of the chooks in recent times has left on their terms. Smith has one more year to run on his contract after this season & even from this far out you'd have to think that he will be lucky to see it out. Ivan Cleary is the bloke they should have chased as coach, he is also a former chook as well. Smith also has Mat Elliott a former chook junior as his assistant this year, which will ease the load somewhat, along with his loyal disciple Jason Taylor who seems to follow him everywhere The guy that could surprise & i really hope he does is Daniel Mortimer, his potential combination with Pearce could be a match winner for them. The bloke who has to lift his game is Kenny Dowell, who was woeful last season after a stellar 2010. They played well at he back end of last season, without Carney & Myles & could surprise a few teams.