If you had been told at the mid way point of last season that Leeds Rhinos would enter the 2023 season as Grand Finalists, you wouldn’t have believed it.
However, they do indeed with new boss Rohan Smith hoping to guide the club back to Old Trafford, however in the eyes of Rugby League Agent Craig Harrison, this has generated extra pressure on Smith going into 2023.
“Was last year a myth? Can Rohan go on from last year, Leeds start off this season as Grand Finalists. That’s pressure for Rohan, that’s pressure,” he said on the Full 80 Minutes Podcast/
“If you asked me will Leeds make the Grand Final this year, I’m not sure. So, if Leeds get fifth or sixth this year from where he started, you’d think that’s not bad but from last year they’ll be calling for Rohan’s head.”
He also suggested that this pressure will be furthered by the transfer policy Leeds have adopted under Smith: “They’ve got a younger side than most, Rohan has done something which is going to be so exciting, he’s gone and grabbed players believing he can take a £40,000 and his system is that good he can turn him into a £70,000 player.
“Other coaches will be saying ‘oh we’ll see,’ Rohan is going to test his system. It’s fantastic.”
He also called for the sport to get the likes of Leeds star Harry Newman in the headlines to spark further interest:
“Harry Newman, get him in the headlines. When he is playing, he is something good. We have to get a narrative to every single club.”
