Tony Smith announces plans to leave Hull KR as coach explains reasoning

Tony Smith has announced he will be standing down as Hull Kingston Rovers coach at the end of this season. Smith made the surprise announcement at the beginning of his pre-match press conference on Wednesday morning that he will be leaving at the end of his current contract having not agreed an extension with the Robins.

Smith was quick to insist that he has not agreed terms with another club for 2023, and shot down perhaps inevitable speculation his announcement meant he was being lined up for a role at former club Leeds Rhinos, saying he has nothing lined up beyond this year and his full focus is on Rovers for the rest of 2022 but it was the 'best thing' for himself and the club to part company.

"I won't be coaching here beyond the end of this year, I'm going to step aside and hand it on to the next person to pick up," he said.

"It's the best thing for the organisation. I've enjoyed coaching this special group of players and I love the support I've been given here by all of the supporters, it's been great. Before anyone asks, I've not got the job at Leeds and I won't be getting announced into another job. It's just a decision I've come to. I haven't been in negotiations, we've not been taking about money, it's just the right thing to do."

Smith also revealed he had not had the influence he had perhaps hoped at Rovers, insisting that it was 'not healthy' for himself and the Robins to stay beyond this year.

"I haven't been able to have the influence I'd like in the entire organisation and sometimes that happens within organisations," he said. "Not everyone are best friends and some people operate better without other people around and I'm hoping that's the case. It's not healthy for the club and it's not healthy for me