Leeds Rhinos star reveals Sean O’Loughlin admission

2023 is a big season for Cameron Smith as he takes on the 13 shirt previously held by Kevin Sinfield and Ellery Hanley.

Speaking to Serious About Rugby League, Smith opened up on how prestigious the shirt is and how special it is for him to wear:

“It’s huge, my family are extremely proud. I’m a student of the game and I’ve watched people who have played loose forward, the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Andy Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin, Paul Sculthorpe, I’ve aspired to be like those people. For me to wear it at such a prestigious club it just doesn’t feel real and I’m excited to wear it next Thursday.

“The shirt carries some weight and I want to do it justice and give it what it deserves.”

However, it is a non-Leeds legend that he wants to replicate in the years to come revealing Wigan Warriors legend Sean O’Loughlin is the player he wants to replicate.

Smith said: “In my era I looked at Sean O’Loughlin who wore the 13 for Wigan and England. He really promoted the difference between a ball-player and a ball-carrier, he was pretty unpredictable in what he could do and I want to become that guy in terms of nobody knows what you’re going to do. Are you gonna pass, are you gonna run? You might even kick. Hopefully the game enjoys seeing people in the middle of the field pass the ball and play with that attacking flair, so if I had to put one guy I wanted to replicate it’d be Sean O’Loughlin.”

Smith had the chance to come up against a top tier 13 in the shape of Josh McGuire of Warrington Wolves in Round One though that chance may disappear if McGuire does receive a big ban after being charged by the RFL with a Grade F offence.