Leeds Rhinos’ Rohan Smith opens up on surprise position switch and Jack Sinfield
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Magi Haroun/Shutterstock 11850907al Morgan Gannon of Leeds Rhinos tries to reach the line with hangers on Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook of St Helens and Kyle Amor of St Helens St Helens v Leeds Rhinos, Betfred Challenge Cup, Rugby League, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, UK - 10 Apr 2021 St Helens v Leeds Rhinos, Betfred Challenge Cup, Rugby League, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, UK - 10 Apr 2021 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xMagixHaroun/Shutterstockx 11850907al
One of the most interesting stories in pre-season has been the supposed strange positional switch of Leeds Rhinos second-row Morgan Gannon into the halves.
Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day friendly against Wakefield Trinity, Rohan Smith opened up on this positional switch:
“Morgan is a very talented young player, he has a really wise, mature head on his shoulders. He played in the halves as a young man but as coaches do we moved him into the forwards based on how he grew.
“Morgan has a really diverse range of skills, he is a clever kid on and off the field. We are giving him the opportunity to show what he has got.”
Gannon will start in the halves against Wakefield with no place for Jack Sinfield in the side.
Smith spoke about what 2023 holds for the young halfback when asked if he will play more this season after debuting at 17 last year:
“That will be up to Jack’s performances and the way he goes. He’s still a young man, he’s got a very mature head on his shoulders and he has experienced players in Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin and Richie Myler in front of him.
“He understands he’s on a journey and he is improving but there’s no set plan. It will be down to how he plays and what the team plays.”