Smith vows to fight on - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Smith vows to fight on

By Laine Clark 30/05/2004 08:14:52 PM Comments (0)

Under fire Parramatta mentor Brian Smith admitted he faced the toughest challenge of his 20-year coaching career after the Eels dropped to their fifth straight NRL match.

Calls for Smith's sacking look set to reach a crescendo after the Eels were thrashed 33-6 by the West Tigers in front of a record Leichhardt Oval crowd.

However, a stubborn Smith vowed to fight on - a view backed by Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald.

The Parramatta boss has ignored pleas from fans and Eels legend Brett Kenny to cut the coach, saying the club would honour the remaining two years on Smith's contract, reportedly worth $375,000 a season.

"We will work through this," he said.

The Tigers ran in six tries to one, including a hat-trick to winger Luke Covell, to mark their third straight win, the first time they have achieved the feat since the joint venture's inaugural season in 2000.

The win was the biggest by the West Tigers over the Eels - surpassing their 22-16 result in 2002.

It also marked the biggest crisis for Smith since he took up the first grade reins at Illawarra in 1984.

"They were tough times for me at Illawarra when I first started, these times are tough as well," he said.

"I fought my way through it before and I'll be doing the same.

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