Behind the scenes of Tony Smith's Hull KR exit as news surprises even the club

Almost three years to the day since being appointed as Hull KR head coach Tony Smith caught everyone by surprise with the announcement he wouldn't be sticking around beyond his contract to the end of the year. The news Smith will leave after three and a half years in charge may not surprise everyone, but if you're one of those who expected the head coach to leave, chances are you don't work at Sewell Craven Park.

Smith had been in discussions with Rovers for a short while on his plans beyond this season, with neither party forcing the issue, both content a resolution would be found. For KR's part, there was an expectation Smith would sign a new one-year deal, with Hull Live understanding a rolling contract had even suggested to allow both the freedom and security to plan for the future.

Smith, it appears, had other intentions. Having pulled his players in to speak to them at the end of training this morning, Smith delivered the news to a stunned squad and a stunned coaching team just minutes before walking into his press conference to tell the waiting media. Assistant coach Danny McGuire had no indication of the news the head coach was about to make and sat stunned with the players.

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But if the squad were stunned, that's nothing like the head office at Rovers were left feeling. Chairman Neil Hudgell and chief executive Paul Lakin had both expected, and not with false hope, that Smith would stay on beyond this season to continue a progression that took Rovers from the bottom of Super League in 2020 to the play-off semi-finals last season.

The lack of a press release or comment from the club