Former Giants man wants to leave club on a Hull of a high!
FORMER England and Huddersfield coach Tony Smith says he may move into rugby union if he cannot find another rugby league club when he leaves Hull KR at the end of the season.
The 55-year-old former Leeds and Warrington boss is currently preparing Rovers for their Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final against the Giants at Elland Road today.
He remains fully committed to the club despite stunning officials in April by announcing he would not be renewing his contract, a move that was prompted by his experience at his first club.
After being unable to stave off relegation with Huddersfield in 2001, Smith guided the Giants back to Super League at the first attempt and helped consolidate their status the following year.
When it became obvious the Giants would be unable to match his own lofty ambitions in the game, Australia-born Smith made the decision to leave the club but was persuaded not to make it public until the end of the season, which he came to regret.
“They asked me to sit on the announcement for six or eight weeks and it left me in a pretty precarious position,” he said.
“They had their next coach organised and I didn’t have a job.
“That was until Leeds came in right at the back-end of the season and it pretty much saved us from having to pack our bags and go back to Australia with our tails between our legs.
“That’s probably why I made my decision public so soon on this one.”
Smith is unlikely to be short of offers after carving out a successful 20-year career in the English game.
After leaving Huddersfield, he went on to resurrect the fortunes of the Rhinos, helping them win two Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge in his four-year stint, before performing similar heroics at Warrington, where he won three Challenge Cups and helped them to three appearances at Old Trafford.
Smith, who was also coach of England for the 2008 World Cup and was in charge of Great Britain up to 2009, left Warrington and rugby league altogether in 2017 and took up motivational speaking.
After being persuaded to join Hull KR in 2019, Smith quickly rediscovered his love for the game and took the Robins to within 80 minutes of a maiden Grand Final last October.
Smith has not given up hope of bowing out with a Grand Final triumph, something that eluded him at Warrington.
“Winning Super League with two different clubs would be the ultimate test,” he said.
As for 2023, Smith is open to offers and admits he would love to stay in Super League.
“That would be the preference but not many opportunities arise,” he said.
“If not, I will have to look further afield, whether it’s France, the Championship or another sport. Maybe I’ll have to look around to see if there are any opportunities in rugby union. I’ll keep my options open. I still want to coach. I have got my mojo back so I’ll have to see what arises.
“There is nothing on the horizon and, if there’s any interest out there, I’d love to get a call.
“In the meantime, I’ve got a lot to focus on.”
Smith guided the Giants back to Super League at the first attempt