He has delivered a withering post-match spray and seemingly questioned his ability to effectively marshal his troops.
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Now Bulldogs coach Mick Schmiedel must steady the ship as his side look to stop the bleeding in a crucial away clash against the Roosters on Sunday.
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Gunnedah prop Lincon Smith said "Mick's been good", but added: "He's probably putting a lot of pressure on himself, because we are a good side on paper - and on the field."
The Bulldogs as a whole needed to release the pressure valve, Smith continued.
He called on his teammates to "enjoy" playing. "I think we just need to hold on to the ball and stop stressing, just relax a bit and just play footy - play fun footy."
He added: "Mick obviously wants us to be in that top two; that's where we should be.
"We've lost a couple of games by one try; that's not good enough ... we should've won by 12-18 points."
After a 26-20 loss to North Tamworth at Jack Woolaston Oval last month, Schmiedel subjected his charges to what veteran Tamworth sports journalist Geoff Newling described as one of the biggest sprays ever delivered by a Group 4 coach.
Following a last-start 30-27 home loss to fifth-placed Moree, the veteran mentor cut an exasperated figure, saying his charges "wanted to do their own things" despite the effectiveness of his game plan.
"It's frustrating," he said. "They don't want to do what I tell them; might be no point in me travelling every week."
Two games back, Gunnedah suffered a narrow loss to Narrabri - in what is shaping as the most competitive competition in recent years.
Despite it being only the midway stage of the season, Smith said Gunnedah were approaching the round seven encounter against Kooty as "do or die".
"We don't want to be in fourth spot," he said.
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