Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith to take “month or so” to reflect on Grand Final defeat

After a dramatic season in which Leeds went from second bottom in April to the Grand Final in September, the story lacked the final chapter to achieve its happily ever after.

Leeds just weren’t able to dethrone Champions St Helens on Saturday succumbing to a 24-12 defeat despite tries from Kruise Leeming and Rhyse Martin at Old Trafford.

Despite a valiant effort to get to the Grand Final and decent swing at the Champions in the decider, Smith believed Leeds had enough to claim the title and that’s where his side’s disappointment stems from:

“Yeah what can you say, there’s no right words. Some are really taking it very hard, others may take it hard at a different point. We’re disappointed because we felt like we could do it. But if you want to taste success you’ve got to be prepared to feel ordinary in defeat.”

He also admitted that he didn’t quite know what to say to his players after the defeat and understands his side will take some time to get over it:

“In the dressing room we’re all reflecting, everyone has their own what ifs, the ball bounces this way instead of that, especially this game. But at some stage when the time is right as an individual you’ve got to reflect on the journey that was and we’ll never go on a journey on the same as that one.  You think a lot and question everything and then pre-season comes around.”

For him personally, he expects to take a month or so to reflect on what he could have done differently determined to take Leeds back to Old Trafford in 2022.

“I’ll reflect on some processes and decisions on gameday, interchanges and that sort of thing over the next month or so. Next year is a clean slate. This year’s performances won’t count next year.”