Smith backs coaches call for patience over new top order
Konstas returned to open for the first time since the Border-Gavaskar series but fell for single-digit scores in both innings, while Green has failed to justify his selection at number three with a highest score of 15 from his last four innings.
More concerning is the pattern of his dismissals caught in the slips all four times as he struggled to find a method to combat the newer ball.
As Smith prepares to return to the Australian XI after recovering from a broken finger, he believes both players will settle into their roles.
'I think for them it's just about being patient,' Smith said on SEN.
'Cam's done it before in Test cricket, he scored runs, so he's not foreign to that. Maybe batting at number three, but I've always said it, even when I went up to open the batting, it's just a number.
'Sometimes you feel more comfortable in a certain position, but it's also just a number. You can come in at any time when the ball's new or whatever, when you lose a few early wickets. Australia's Sam Konstas is bowled by West Indies' Shamar Joseph. Credit: Ricardo Mazalan / AP
'I think we've just got to be patient with them, they're talented players, they've got good skills, and I'm sure they'll come good.'
It echoes similar sentiments expressed by coach Andrew McDonald, who hinted players would be given an extended run.
'We've had some conversations around, 'potentially if you're in that situation again, what does that look like?' and that's what experience is,' McDonald told reporters in Barbados.
'It's learning from previous events and trying to implement a way through that. It's really that balance and tempo ... that's a step up to Test cricket.'
It means Marnus Labuschagne will have to break his way back into the best XI, having been dropped for the first time in 53 Test matches after a poor run of form.
However, Smith believes his Test career is not over.
'He's actually in a pretty good place. I think I said it after the last game - I thought he batted really well in the World Test Championship Final without going on to make a big score,' Smith said.
'I thought his movements, the positions he was getting himself into and the way he was in particular clipping the ball through mid-wicket (was great).
'He's obviously not played the last Test match, and he's got an opportunity to work on a few things that he probably wants to work on without the pressures of playing in the game as well.
'At his best, he's as good as anyone in the world and I've no doubt he'll get back there.'
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The Advertiser
11 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Walters embraces 'lifetime' chance to coach Australia
Kevin Walters won a World Cup final for Australia with a famous pass as a player and now is "proud" he gets to coach the Kangaroos on the three-Test tour of England. Walters, 57, replaces new Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga in the role on a 12-month contract and said he had put aspirations to coach in the NRL again on hold in 2026. "Certainly. At the moment, my focus is the Kangaroos," Walters said. "I want to do a great job there with the Ashes series. It's a big job. "It's a 12-month contract so it's the opportune time for me to come in and get some hard work done and then prepare these guys for what will be a very tough series. "When that phone call came to ask if I would be interested in coaching the Kangaroos, the hairs on the back of my neck really stood up and bristled. "As a kid, you dream about ... playing for the Kangaroos, which I was fortunate enough to achieve, and now to be given the opportunity to coach them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of the following year. If successful on the Ashes tour there is a strong chance he would be retained for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Walters played 12 Tests for Australia and was a hero of the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos were trailing 6-4 when Walters came off the bench to throw a classic "out ball" to his Brisbane teammate Steve Renouf who scored the match winner in 10-6 win. Former NSW coach Brad Fittler turned down the opportunity to replace Meninga while former Kangaroos coach and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett was ruled out of contention by the Commission due to his club responsibilities. Former Australia captain Cameron Smith told 100% Footy on Monday night that despite being interested in the coaching role, he was not given the opportunity to present his case. He did receive notification from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys that Walters had got the job. "He gave me a phone call to let me know the decision was made to go with Kev and that was about it," Smith said. "I'm happy with that decision, I respect that decision. "If I had an opportunity to put my case forward I would've but the decision was made by the game's hierarchy to go with Kevvie and I think it's a great appointment." During the conversation Smith said V'landys spoke about a possible assistant role. "That could be something to look at but I've not had any further discussions with Peter or Andrew Abdo or anyone in the NRL about that," he said. Walters said a possible role for Smith on the coaching staff was "something that we'll have to have a look at". "I'm not sure of Cameron's position at the moment and what he wants to do but he's been a great leader for the Kangaroos and I have worked with Smithy as a captain-coach relationship with the Queensland team for a few years," Walters said. "We've got a good relationship. I'll get my feet under the desk first. There's a lot of decisions to be made around staff. Certainly, we'll look at that in the next couple of days." Kevin Walters won a World Cup final for Australia with a famous pass as a player and now is "proud" he gets to coach the Kangaroos on the three-Test tour of England. Walters, 57, replaces new Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga in the role on a 12-month contract and said he had put aspirations to coach in the NRL again on hold in 2026. "Certainly. At the moment, my focus is the Kangaroos," Walters said. "I want to do a great job there with the Ashes series. It's a big job. "It's a 12-month contract so it's the opportune time for me to come in and get some hard work done and then prepare these guys for what will be a very tough series. "When that phone call came to ask if I would be interested in coaching the Kangaroos, the hairs on the back of my neck really stood up and bristled. "As a kid, you dream about ... playing for the Kangaroos, which I was fortunate enough to achieve, and now to be given the opportunity to coach them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of the following year. If successful on the Ashes tour there is a strong chance he would be retained for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Walters played 12 Tests for Australia and was a hero of the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos were trailing 6-4 when Walters came off the bench to throw a classic "out ball" to his Brisbane teammate Steve Renouf who scored the match winner in 10-6 win. Former NSW coach Brad Fittler turned down the opportunity to replace Meninga while former Kangaroos coach and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett was ruled out of contention by the Commission due to his club responsibilities. Former Australia captain Cameron Smith told 100% Footy on Monday night that despite being interested in the coaching role, he was not given the opportunity to present his case. He did receive notification from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys that Walters had got the job. "He gave me a phone call to let me know the decision was made to go with Kev and that was about it," Smith said. "I'm happy with that decision, I respect that decision. "If I had an opportunity to put my case forward I would've but the decision was made by the game's hierarchy to go with Kevvie and I think it's a great appointment." During the conversation Smith said V'landys spoke about a possible assistant role. "That could be something to look at but I've not had any further discussions with Peter or Andrew Abdo or anyone in the NRL about that," he said. Walters said a possible role for Smith on the coaching staff was "something that we'll have to have a look at". "I'm not sure of Cameron's position at the moment and what he wants to do but he's been a great leader for the Kangaroos and I have worked with Smithy as a captain-coach relationship with the Queensland team for a few years," Walters said. "We've got a good relationship. I'll get my feet under the desk first. There's a lot of decisions to be made around staff. Certainly, we'll look at that in the next couple of days." Kevin Walters won a World Cup final for Australia with a famous pass as a player and now is "proud" he gets to coach the Kangaroos on the three-Test tour of England. Walters, 57, replaces new Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga in the role on a 12-month contract and said he had put aspirations to coach in the NRL again on hold in 2026. "Certainly. At the moment, my focus is the Kangaroos," Walters said. "I want to do a great job there with the Ashes series. It's a big job. "It's a 12-month contract so it's the opportune time for me to come in and get some hard work done and then prepare these guys for what will be a very tough series. "When that phone call came to ask if I would be interested in coaching the Kangaroos, the hairs on the back of my neck really stood up and bristled. "As a kid, you dream about ... playing for the Kangaroos, which I was fortunate enough to achieve, and now to be given the opportunity to coach them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of the following year. If successful on the Ashes tour there is a strong chance he would be retained for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Walters played 12 Tests for Australia and was a hero of the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos were trailing 6-4 when Walters came off the bench to throw a classic "out ball" to his Brisbane teammate Steve Renouf who scored the match winner in 10-6 win. Former NSW coach Brad Fittler turned down the opportunity to replace Meninga while former Kangaroos coach and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett was ruled out of contention by the Commission due to his club responsibilities. Former Australia captain Cameron Smith told 100% Footy on Monday night that despite being interested in the coaching role, he was not given the opportunity to present his case. He did receive notification from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys that Walters had got the job. "He gave me a phone call to let me know the decision was made to go with Kev and that was about it," Smith said. "I'm happy with that decision, I respect that decision. "If I had an opportunity to put my case forward I would've but the decision was made by the game's hierarchy to go with Kevvie and I think it's a great appointment." During the conversation Smith said V'landys spoke about a possible assistant role. "That could be something to look at but I've not had any further discussions with Peter or Andrew Abdo or anyone in the NRL about that," he said. Walters said a possible role for Smith on the coaching staff was "something that we'll have to have a look at". "I'm not sure of Cameron's position at the moment and what he wants to do but he's been a great leader for the Kangaroos and I have worked with Smithy as a captain-coach relationship with the Queensland team for a few years," Walters said. "We've got a good relationship. I'll get my feet under the desk first. There's a lot of decisions to be made around staff. Certainly, we'll look at that in the next couple of days."
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson concedes mistake in Chad Townsend selection, recalls Sandon Smith
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Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Didn't work out': Fifth halves pairing's a charm as Roosters reveal Radley blow
Trent Robinson concedes his surprise Chad Townsend experiment 'didn't work out how we wanted' as he backed Sandon Smith and his fifth halves pairing of 2025 to keep the Roosters finals hopes alive. Smith will partner Sam Walker against Melbourne after an error-strewn loss to Cronulla dropped the Roosters to 10th on the NRL ladder and cost Townsend the No.6 jersey following his first game since April. Robinson also revealed enforcer Victor Radley is expected to miss up to a month with an ongoing shoulder issue despite the back-rower telling reporters on Tuesday that he was not anticipating missing more than a week. Storm coach Craig Bellamy remains unsure of Ryan Papenhuyzen's return from a month-long calf injury, while Melbourne will be without Cameron Munster as he attends his father's funeral and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension). At the Roosters scrum base, Hugo Savala will be sidelined for another week with wrist ligament damage, prompting Smith's recall after he was initially dropped when Walker made his injury comeback. Robinson said before the Sharks clash that Smith was dropped to reserve grade because 'he can play better ', while Townsend had impressed in NSW Cup. Smith was then withdrawn from reserve grade after Townsend's four mistakes against Cronulla and recalled to first grade based on his training in recent weeks. 'It didn't work out how we wanted last week, but I've also been really clear about what I'd like from [Smith] and his improvement,' Robinson said.
