Gary Hetherington billed his next appointment at Leeds Rhinos' as one of the most important he will have made for the club.
On the same level, it is perhaps the most important for his legacy.
Given his association with the Golden Generation, the Leeds Rhinos chief executive will always be credited for playing a significant role in the club's greatest era. Overseeing redevelopments at Headingley Stadium and the commercial growth of the club ensure his impact will never be forgotten. It shouldn't be lost on people what state he inherited the club in, and where he took them.
But in recent years, things have not gone well on the field. The rebuild of the squad post-Golden Generation has failed.
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The productivity of the Academy dwindled and only recovered in the past few years. The appointment of Dave Furner was a mistake, recruitment has been hit and miss. Leeds have won two trophies in seven years. They have won less than 50 per cent of their games in that time. It was a seismic task but it hasn't been handled well.
In appointing Rohan Smith, a well-respected albeit relatively unknown quantity, nobody can accuse the Rhinos chief executive of playing it safe. He hasn't pandered to the Rhinos faithful and returned from Australia with a household name, which would have undoubtedly been the safe option and quick fix for the disgruntlement lingering on the Headingley terraces. You only need to take a look at social media to figure out that the Leeds fanbase is underwhelmed by this appointment.
Hetherington has taken a risk, a fairly big one at that, and he will either be excoriated if it backfires or receive great acclaim if it turns out to be a success. Only time will tell in that regard.
Though, determining what constitutes success appears to be a grey area. The most extreme opinion is that Smith should make the Rhinos title contenders come the end of 2023, which is an opinion bordering on being fanatical. He needs time to weed out the problems within the squad, of which there are many, and recruitment cycles to bring in his own players. The great Justin Holbrook arrived at St Helens midway through 2017 and won nothing in his first 18 months. Like it or loathe it, this is a long-term project where trophies shouldn't be expected in the immediate future.
That is a harsh truth some Leeds fans need to accept. Richard Agar was never accepted by a section of the fanbase despite inheriting a side in a relegation battle and a salary cap in total disarray. He took them to Challenge Cup success and a play-off semi-final within two years but fans still had their reservations. Smith's goal for the rest of the year is to actually ensure the work that went on during Agar's reign doesn't go to waste and that another complete rebuild does not need to be undertaken. Whether it appears this way or not, Smith inherits the squad in a better position than Agar did.
Ultimately, if Smith makes Leeds legitimate contenders again within the next three-and-a-half years, he, and Hetherington, will have succeeded. The pressing issue is ensuring the Rhinos don't endure the unthinkable pain of relegation. The size of that task could have been amplified by the time he arrives, with Leeds facing Toulouse in a basement battle on Friday.
He needs support from his players, who have managed to get away with taking the brunt of the criticism despite their poor performances. For them now, with a new head coach in charge, there is no hiding place. Effort may well be there but it's telling that the only defence you can give to the players is that they are trying hard. Too many have cut corners and internally they have pointed the blame elsewhere. Maybe some have run their race. Smith needs to figure that out sharpish with May 1st around the corner.
Nobody should underestimate the size of the task ahead of Smith, and Hetherington needs to have got this right.
