Jamie Jones-Buchanan may have overseen his last game as interim Head Coach of Leeds with the club hoping that Rohan Smith could be in charge to take on Uncle Tony Smith’s Hull KR side.
He will do so on the back of Buchanan’s first win as a coach as Leeds downed Toulouse 25-14 in a vital game at Headingley.
After the game, Buchanan spoke about what the “frustrating” win meant to him: “It was a frustrating one, I’ll be honest. We came out to play with some extremely young blokes and it was a big ask when Liam Sutcliffe comes off and Tom Briscoe does his ankle.
“You’ve got second-rows at centre, young kids who are very young playing out of position on the wing and tip in. We had 10 of the 17 who’ve come through the system which is the most gratifying thing for me.”
With so many young players taking the lead again tonight and an exciting coach set to arrive and develop them in Rohan Smith, Buchanan believed that this could be the first chapter in another great story at Headingley: “We’re in a bit of a prequel of something that could be special going forward. We’ve got a new coach coming in Rohan Smith and I’m really excited about the pedigree that he’s got in there, the family background and what he reminds me of in my journey.
“I hope those boys are in a bit of a prequel where if they stick together, keep fighting like they’ve done tonight then they’re going to lift trophies not least because lads like Kruise Leeming, Ash Handley, Brad Dwyer have been outstanding with their leadership qualities.”
Yes, skipper Leeming led the way tonight but many young men followed suit who Buchanan singled out for praise: “I can’t speak highly enough of lads like Morgan Gannon, Jarrod O’Connor, Max Simpson, Jack Sinfield. He came up with some really big moments, important plays in really key, pivotal moments in the game. And you know that because of his pedigree and what’s between his ears that he’s going to nail it but you worry physically is old enough and the answer is yes though I hope we don’t have to use him too much too soon.”
He also addressed fears of Leeds being in a relegation battle virtually promising that the second half of the season would be very different: “You see some of the panic and I understand it but when you’re on the inside it puts it into more context. We’ll be fine.
“You look around the edges of the changing room at some of the players who’ve got to come back in, the second half of the season will be completely different I absolutely have no doubt about that.”
Leeds’ injury concerns did worsen tonight with Liam Sutcliffe and Tom Briscoe both departing the field leaving the Rhinos with a lack of backs. This prompted more questions over a potential loan signing: “That’s up to Gary Hetherington and Rohan Smith, I’ll speak to him on the phone about what the situation is.”
Buchanan also addressed whether he’d like to see now free agent Zak Hardaker return to the club following his release from Wigan: “I hope Zak’s well first and foremost. I have some really fond memories with him and what stood out is how forthcoming he’s always been with some of the challenges and difficulties he’s had and never hides behind it.
“There’s a lot of his old friends in there who love him and recognise the character he is. I’d be more than willing to go put my arm around him and help him out.
“We’re talking about culture and it’s really important for these young blokes that we get the right people in who will set the right examples and that would be up to Rohan and Gary Hetherington if they’re going to allow Zak in but his potential as a player is phenomenal and in that regard yes for sure.”
Of course, he did give an update on the injured Sutcliffe whilst also acknowledging that Briscoe’s ankle injury “looked pretty bad.”
On Sutcliffe he said: “Sutty has had a bad knee for a while so we’ve had to manage that through the week. A lot of our halves have had a lot of volume to get through because of injuries. It compounds when you’re missing Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Richie Myler, Jack Walker. So those guys are having to play more and train more and it just compounds it.”
Tonight the injuries saw Jack Broadbent figure at centre before taking over at one following Sutcliffe’s injury. It was the chance the out of favour back needed and he took it with a solid performance. On Broadbent, Buchanan said: “He’s got a few fans has Jack hasn’t he? I’m pleased. I had a bit of an emotional chat with Jack last week and I understand Max Simpson jumps in there. I was the best 18th man in the world for about five years when I was coming through and there would be six or seven injuries and I’d still be 18th man so I understand the why he’s feeling.
“I sat down with him and I said ‘sport can change overnight you’ve just got to be prepared for that opportunity’ and through circumstance that came tonight and I’ll tell you now I grabbed him at halftime and said ‘if you play like that every week you’ll be in the team every week.'”
It seems Broadbent, and Leeds’ teenage starlets, may have to play again against the Robins with Buchanan having this to say of those currently out injured: “Some of them aren’t far off but they’re not close enough that they’re worth risking.”
