Eddie and Stevo baffled by Tony Smith’s decision to leave Hull KR

Tony Smith shocked his players, his club Hull KR and almost everyone else when he announced he would be leaving Craven Park at the end of 2022.

After guiding Rovers to the semi-finals of the Super League play-offs in 2021 and creating a legacy like few others with the Robins, it seemed a rather unusual decision.

And, for Eddie Hemmings and Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson, they cannot understand the timing of his decision.

“How will the players accept it? – I would imagine all the players would think to themselves why on earth is he going,” Stevo said.

“He’s built up a wonderful squad right from the beginning when he went there and he’s got them working for him.

“He’s done a magnificent job – why couldn’t he have left it until the end of the season?

“To come out with that before the semi-final I can’t understand Tony’s thinking.”

“All the players have got behind him, he’s a great coach and he’s got all the experience in the world and all of a sudden he throws a spanner in the works.”

Stevo believes Smith will have a number of teams circling round him to bring the veteran to their club.

“He says he’s not going anywhere else, but I would be very surprised if Tony Smith retires, he’s still got a lot to give to this game.

“If you look at his record, all other teams that are maybe thinking of getting a new coach, they will be knocking on his door.”