One thing you can't accuse Rohan Smith of is playing it safe. The Leeds Rhinos head coach is quickly developing a reputation as an idiosyncratic thinker after a string of eye-catching decisions in preparation for the new season.
Leeds Rhinos' recruitment drive for the forthcoming season has had people intrigued and perplexed in equal measure. Eight signings have been made, but five of them only have eight Super League appearances between them. Meanwhile, players like Zak Hardaker, Liam Sutcliffe and Brad Dwyer have been allowed to leave for rival Super League clubs.
Ever since his arrival he has attempted to reinvent players in different positions. Morgan Gannon, widely regarded as one of the best young players on the planet, is being coached to play in the halves despite being a recognised back-rower. Other players have gone through similar, though less radical, changes.
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He is keen to move away from a conventional style of play. As an example, of their 14 kick-offs in pre-season games, they have challenged to regain possession in all of them rather than play for territory, something many would consider high risk.
And perhaps most peculiar of all was his decision to not name a captain within his squad, something that is almost unheard of across world sport, not just rugby league.
Even some of his peers across rival Super League clubs have privately questioned certain decisions and the same scepticism has stretched into the fanbase.
But Smith is a man convinced by his methods and is justified in believing so. The turnaround he oversaw at Headingley last year was remarkable, taking the club from relegation battlers to Grand Finalists in a few short months. He enjoyed success with Norths Devils too, winning the Queensland Cup. Despite the eccentricity of his decisions, his track record suggests he should be trusted.
The nature of his decisions do come with the risk of a quick turn in fan support. It's not a secret that a section of the Rhinos support base has been underwhelmed by their recruitment and confused by the decision not to name a captain. There is plenty of ammunition for Smith's critics to use if things don't go as well as hoped.
Underneath that, perhaps perspective is needed. Gary Hetherington made no secret of the fact the appointment of Smith was made with long-term planning in mind. You could argue their recruitment strategy has reflected that. Last year's Grand Final surge may have seen many lose sight of that.
Scientists say there is a fine line between genius and madness. Maybe that applies to Smith too. Where some see an innovator, others may see a nutty coach. Results will, as is always the case, determine whether some of those decisions were inspired or ludicrous. But if Smith's history is anything to go by, perhaps it helps to be a little bit crazy.
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