Former Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith on ‘conversations’ held over Super League and NRL roles

Former Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith has revealed that he has had conversations with NRL and Super League clubs since being sacked.

He was sacked after a poor run of form that culminated in a defeat to Hull FC, half-way through his third season at the club.

Since then, Brad Arthur, previously at Parramatta Eels, has taken over the role until the end of the season.

Asked how close he was to returning himself to rugby league, during BBC Radio Leeds‘ coverage of Castleford Tigers’ victory over Catalans Dragons, Smith said: “Oh, it’s not close.

“There are conversations about roles that potentially would suit both in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere, but yeah, not close, and I’m not in a rush.

“I’m eager. I don’t need a break, I didn’t need a break. My energy was high all the way up to the last day. I’m ready to go whenever that role is, and I’ve done a lot of different jobs within NRL teams, particularly, so I can fit in lots of different places in an organisation.

“I’ve done a very long apprenticeship of 23 years or something now and I’m 43, so I’ve done a lot of coaching and experienced a lot of roles and I love coaching and leadership in general.

“You don’t have to be a head coach of a club to have an impact so I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.”

Former Leeds Rhinos boss opens up about uncertainty

It’s easy to forget, sometimes, that people within sport are just that: people.

Smith continued, opening up about the impact of the uncertainty over his next role.

He said: “Those uncertain times as well make it a little hard at times just not to know where you’re going to land. When your daughter asks you, ‘Dad, where are we going to be living next?’ That’s tough, that’s tough, but it’s all part of what we sign up for.

“My family have been amazing in this last month or so. My two girls have been great and probably appreciate more time with Dad, not being distracted as much. But my wife, she’s been phenomenal and my young lad, he’s been great. It’s cricket season and he’s obsessed by it.”