Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith speaks out on Match Review Panel

Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith has been open with his questions about disciplinary after Sam Lisone and James Donaldson were suspended following Leeds‘ defeat to Hull KR.

The Rhinos appealed the suspension of Lisone but didn’t make that move with James Donaldson’s suspension from the same game.

Smith explained the decision to not appeal Donaldson’s ban on BBC West Yorkshire sport: “It’s a little early in the piece to be definitive with my thoughts on that. There haven’t been many of those tackles. We’ve only been going for two weeks.

“There were some challenges looked at by the panel last week, but they were different types of tackles, so it’s probably a little early to be too conclusive about my thoughts.”

He went on to praise Robert Hicks ahead of the meeting with the RFL with Super League coaches.

He said: “Robert Hicks leading it has been super transparent and open to the coach’s thoughts and observations. It’s very much that we are working together on this and the good of the game has to be the number priority.”

Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith questions Match Review Panel’s use of fines

This led to Smith saying: “Players just want to play. They don’t want to miss games for any reason. But my understanding of the fining system was that it was a good way of reprimanding players where needed but without the need for them missing games.

“I’d rather pay a fine than miss a game but at times they’re getting a fine and a game. So, I’m not quite sure how that was all thought about.”

This is an interesting point and one that the players will likely raise at their meeting with the RFL which will also take place on Wednesday afternoon as the players look to ensure a better future for themselves and the sport especially around these new rules regarding tackle height and the punishments that follow up from that.