I'd be disappointed with Mcdermott but when names like Soward are being thrown around his appointment would come as a relief.

Think he stays in the NRL as an assistant tbh. He lost control at Souths big time. Took them from a semi final to missing out on the play off last year, now they're bottom.

Not saying he's a bad coach but he probably needs some time to reflect instead of jumping in to a head coach role

He has a good record of success of turning clubs around Barring Souths , I think Demetriou would do a great job here .

Exactly. Not all but most of us were happy when Smith was appointed. He ticked all the boxes. An experienced coach who improved every club under his tenure. I said at the time if he can't turn us around I cannot see who will. We say it every time but the next appointment will be the most important in many years. With declining crowds and general apathy the supposed significant investment if it actually materialises couldn't have come at a more important time. If the club doesn't get it right this time I fear we will be in the doldrums for years.

I was strongly against smith, partly because I've never liked him and partly because he was clearly a busted flush who's achievements have been massively over rated.

Did nothing much with all the money wire have and almost got rovers relegated in his first year before scraping into the play offs in his 2nd but left when he spat his dummy out.

It was never going to work

Im not a fan of his but you cant say his achievements has been massively over rated. Hes won multiple SL titles, multiple Challenge Cups, a World Club Challenge as well as getting to numerous other finals and losing. You cant knock his record, hes just come to the end of his shelf life.

Recent comments in the Aussie media suggest McDermott's seen in a different light over there.

'Since the start of 2023, McDermott has been one of the assistant coaches at Newcastle Knights, earning a strong reputation down under, with Gould and rugby league great Andrew Johns the latest to sing his praises as he edges closer to a top job in Australia.'

Does this change anyone's views on his potential appointment here?

He's won 1 superleague title hasn't he? with leeds who went on to win another 7 or 8. 3 challenge cups I think and failed to win a title with wire even though he had huge resources there.

got hudds relegated, completely failed with GB/England and hardly covered himself in glory at rovers before the debacle with us.

even mcdermott won more than he has. Like I said, completely over rated

Could we not have briers AND McDermott?
Look at other sides in the SL and you'll see blokes who have been head coaches at assistant level, with inexperienced head coaches... just a thought

Because neither are going to their current role as an NRL assistant to be an assistant at Hull.

Only chance we have of getting either if they get the head coaches job.

I've just read Blake Solly's comments on Demetriou's departure . Seems one of the reasons he got sacked was his refusal to play younger players . This should be a red flag for us with the club focusing on promoting our own players .

Think it's O'Meley...

Maybe we should use the same tactic. There's plenty to choose from.

Mcdermott keen to stay in Newcastle according to the local press

Anyone else's positivity starting to fade a bit, thought we would have more news by now.

As it stands our squad is weaker than when Smith was in charge, we have no coach (having again been turned down by our first choice).

Players leaving, as mentioned, no massively bothered about the players who are leaving, but can we replace them with better from small domestic pool?

Probably need to replace the following players

Litten
Scott
Carlos
F Brown
J Brown
Houghton
Hoy
Balmforth
Mitch

Plus possible Sao and Okunbor, that's potentially 11 players, 5 quota spots which would help and
maybe the likes of Litten and Balmforth can be played internally, but going to be hard to replace the ones leaving with better.

What I find strange is even last season we were linked with players like Trout, Wood etc but our names doesn't seem to come play when players like Storton, King, Broadbent (who would all add something to our side) are been linked with teams.

Really hope have some kind of positive news, as so far the main things that have happened is talk about positive things happening, but without too much action.