Gold Coast assistant coach Rohan Smith has every reason to be wary of becoming an NRL first grade coach.
The son of former Illawarra, St George, Newcastle, Parramatta and Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has seen first-hand the heartache and tough times that come with such a position.
His father coached at the top level for over two decades, making four grand finals in that time but losing them all.
Despite those experiences, Smith has long desired a career on the sidelines with the ultimate aim of one-day taking on a top job himself.
"I had a few arguments with coaches as a young fella," Smith told reporters.
"I probably didn't apply myself as I should have towards training when I was young - I was always thinking more from the coaching side of things.
"I was keen on helping my mates to play well rather than ripping in, having a dig myself a bit."
That passion secured him a spot on Daniel Anderson's staff at the Warriors as a 21-year-old, going on to hold a variety of backroom roles at several clubs including the Knights and Roosters before being chosen by Titans' coach Neil Henry as one of his assistants.
It's a path that Smith hopes will take him into a head coach's position one day, although for now he's just enjoying having a hand in rebuilding the Titans' fortunes under Henry after the club's fourth consecutive season without a finals appearance.
"I've always enjoyed the opportunity to work with developing clubs, where it's not so much trying to maintain being at the top, but getting to the top," the 33 year-old said.
"I enjoy working with the development towards something bigger."
Smith is the odd man out in Gold Coast's new coaching staff, working alongside old heads Henry and Terry Matterson.
Matterson was a player in the Brisbane team that beat the St George side coached by Smith's father in 1992 and `93 and worked alongside Henry at North Queensland.
Despite their age and experience differences, Matterson says Smith's knowledge has impressed him since they arrived at the club in October.
"Obviously his father Brian's been around the game and is very well respected, there's going to be a lot of that carried to Rohan," he said.
"He handles himself very well. The guy's respected and he seems to know his stuff."
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