11 January 2023 , 20:45
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Even nine months into the job, boss Rohan Smith sometimes gets caught musing about the sheer “magnitude” of Leeds Rhinos.
But that only further excites the astute Aussie about what they can attain together when he bids to fully unlock untapped potential in 2023. He was one of last term’s big success stories having taken over in April and swiftly transformed the troubled Super League giants from relegation contenders to Grand Finalists. Little-known Smith, 41, had never been in charge of a top-flight side before, working for years as an assistant, but you’d never have guessed.
Although they fell short against four-peat champions St Helens at Old Trafford, Leeds’ vastly-improved displays have left fans hoping for bigger things again when the new campaign starts. It’s all been a far cry from his previous gig with Queensland Cup side Norths Devils but is being a head coach at elite level everything he hoped for?
Smith conceded: “From time to time, I do sort of have to shake my head at the magnitude of this club. I have to be grateful and understand the amount of people and how big the club actually is. That bobs up from time to time. But mostly I live and breathe it here every day. The job that I’m in is what I love to do every day. Leeds is a massive club and a great club in so many ways.”
Whether the eight-time Super League champions can get back to their halcyon days remains to be seen. Rhinos haven’t made any huge signings for 2023 but Leigh’s Papua New Guinea centre Nene Macdonald, Gold Coast prop Sam Lisone, Toulouse front-row Justin Sangare and prolific Castleford winger Derrell Olpherts all add value. And Smith loves nurturing and improving players in his ranks.
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He said: “We’ve made some rosta changes - some forced, some our decisions. But the rosta in place last year never really got a chance to fulfil its potential so I think there’s a lot of growth in the players already here. There’s some good complimentary players coming in to support what was starting to build towards the back end of the year. And they’ve all made a good impact in their own way.”
Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith before the Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, Manchester. (Martin Rickett/PA Wire) (PA)Having arrived mid-season last year, he’s relishing now getting a decent extended period to further implement his ideas before the February 16 kick-off at Warrington. Smith admitted: “It’s definitely good to have time together without a game every weekend. It means you can work on some things.
“But pre-season’s been disrupted: we didn’t finish playing until the middle of October and then we’d seven or eight players away in the World Cup plus a couple of season-ending injuries last year. I wouldn’t say we’ve had the whole group together yet but we’ve been able to spend more time on things that we think are important together.
“We’ve been able to put in some processes and systems that can set us up for the season ahead. It’s been enjoyable and we’re looking forward to the start.”