Leeds Rhinos player concedes ‘complacency’ and ‘divide’ under Rohan Smith

Leeds Rhinos fans have been offered a look into the club with one star player conceding ‘complacency’ during Rohan Smith’s tenure.

Smith, who took over early in the 2022 season, left his role midway through the 2024 campaign with the Rhinos stumbling for a second season in a row.

Despite turning the fortunes around in 2022 and taking Leeds to the Grand Final, the Rhinos missed the play-offs in 2023 under Smith and were trending that way at the time of his exit. They would eventually go on to miss the top six once again in 2024 with Brad Arthur unable to turn the club’s fortunes around in his ten games.

There was far more optimism under Arthur and he will lead the club again in 2025 but to give fans their rugby league fix during the off-season, Leeds Rhinos are airing a documentary series on Super League+.

Titled ‘Spirt of the Rhinos’, episode two covers the club’s poor mid-season run that culminated in Rohan Smith’s departure. The in-depth access then shows player reactions to Smith’s exit with James McDonnell stepping up and giving his insight on the situation in a very candid moment.

Leeds Rhinos player concedes ‘complacency’ and ‘divide’ shaped Rohan Smith exit

McDonnell, who was called up to the England team in 2024, is one of the club’s rising stars and his insight showed the maturity of a player who could become an integral leader.

Shedding light on Smith’s exit, McDonnell said:”It was tough, there were times where a bit of a divide came in. We’re addressing it now after it’s been, but I just don’t really feel like there was a lot of buy-in and a lot of direction with the squad.

“I feel like some things went a little bit unnoticed and we maybe got a little bit complacent. It was never the intention, it was never done deliberately, but I think complacency will be the word that came in.”

After winning 15 of 19 games in 2022, Rohan Smith would oversee a further 43 matches but register just 19 wins with his 2024 exit coming off the back of a loss to lowly Hull FC.

Reflecting, McDonnell said: “It’s disappointing to look back. I feel Rohan himself did try and drive standards but I don’t feel that they fit for what that squad needed at that particular time maybe.

“For some people, they responded well but for others, it wasn’t exactly the type of coaching that they responded well to.”

With a coach of the pedigree and experience of Brad Arthur at the helm and a whole off-season to reflect, Leeds Rhinos fans will be hoping that players and staff are on the same page as they look to end their play-off drought in 2025.