Video: Survivors Wakefield Trinity facing fight to keep hold of coach Smith

WAKEFIELD Trinity chairman Michael Carter says he will pay whatever it takes to ensure head coach Brian Smith stays with the club after famously guiding them to Super League safety.
SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.
SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.

Securing the veteran Australian – rated one of the finest coaches of his generation – was a major coup when he arrived in June, tasked with saving Trinity’s top-flight status.

Although Smith could not prevent them finishing bottom, he did successfully navigate Wildcats through the Qualifiers and confirmed their place in the elite for 2016 with the nerve-shredding 24-16 victory over Championship Bradford Bulls in the inaugural ‘Million-Pound Match’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the former Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters chief, lauded for reviving Bradford at the start of Super League when he coached there in 1996, has yet to confirm whether he will stay in the UK beyond this year.

SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.
SURVIVORS: Wakefield Wildcats Brian Smith, head coach and club chairman Michael Carter, celebrate their team's win.

However, speaking after an heroic win at Belle Vue that eased tremendous financial pressure on the club, Carter made it clear he wanted the 61-year-old to remain.

“Brian’s had three beers now and my plan is to get him about 33, then put a piece of paper in front of him and get him to sign that or anything,” he said.

“We will be sitting down in the next couple of days and thrashing out what he wants to do and that is the only question that needs answering – ‘Brian, what do you want to do?’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If he says he wants to stay then money won’t be a problem. We will put a package together that Brian’s happy with and we are, too.

“He won’t be silly with his demands – I know that for a fact and I trust him as he’s that sort of guy.

“It’s just whether he wants to stay or go home as he’s got commitments back there but hopefully we will have him in charge so we can take the momentum out of Saturday and build on it.

“Obviously we’re delighted to win and, for me, it’s billed as the ‘Million-Pound Game’ but it was never about money; we want to be at the top table of Super League.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are back in it now for next year but are under no illusions; we have to do a lot, lot better than this season, so that’s the aim – improvement.”

Asked about Smith’s impact, Carter added: “It’s the things he’s put in place all around the club, not just about the 80 minutes on a match day. He’s already planned a full pre-season regardless of whether he’s here or not and all the signings we’ve made so far – we’ve eight who have committed to us should we stay up and another three or four others hopefully – are all his.

“He said even if he doesn’t stay he didn’t want to hand over to someone without it being sorted and that shows the sort of guy he is.

“He is a top, top bloke, I’m sincerely honoured to have met him and sincerely hopes he stays.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The game was not decided until Scott Moore raced over with 71 seconds to go and Smith said: “I do have responsibilities at home and opportunities here.

“Michael and I said we wouldn’t sit down to talk about the future before today was over. But, if I’ve had a better time than this, I can’t remember when. It’s been so enjoyable. I feel honoured and proud to have been the Wakefield coach. I’m tickled pink.”

Bradford must contemplate a second season in the Championship and head coach James Lowes admitted chairman Marc Green may be unable to retain a full-time squad for 2016.

“The lads are in tears,” he said, after missing out on bouncing straight back from relegation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You’ve got to let them ride through the emotion and it’s something we’ll talk about when we come back for pre-season.

“It’s not guaranteed we will stay full-time next year. Marc’s fantastic but we’re limited by budget; we’ve a lot of people who work here for next to nothing as it is.”

On the Super 8s format, Lowes, who is thought to have signed Wakefield full-back Lee Smith for next season, maintained: “I don’t think this concept has benefitted anything. You’ve got two teams under so much pressure when there’s just no need to do it.

“Why don’t I take someone from the RFL downstairs and tell them they won’t have a job because they’ve got to be cut?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve got to tell players and blokes who’ve worked extremely hard all year their livelihood is gone. I take nothing away from Wakefield, though; they worked very hard and took their chances well.”

Match report: Page 5.