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Rohan Smith calls on RFL to change this after rival coach’s comments

Leeds Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith

Leeds Rhinos fans were perhaps worried on Friday night when the likes of Harry Newman and Nene MacDonald left the field.

However, speaking after the game Rohan Smith revealed that this was simply because of the short turnaround the club has had to deal with:

“He is okay, he had a bit of general tightness. He has been through a very hefty work load especially after last week and a short turn around so he had some tightness so we weren’t taking any risks there.

“Yeah with Harry, on a short turn around for a guy like him, maybe one too many shady offloads as well. He needs to reign things in a bit but I think he tried really hard again tonight.

“I took him off because the result had been decided and having him available next week after a short turnaround was important. He did throw a few shady offloads but that wasn’t the reason.”

The Rhinos had a five day turnaround which was the same as Salford Red Devils and their coach Paul Rowley said after their scrappy win over Castleford Tigers that it was due in part to the fact they had essentially had an Easter period.

When Smith was asked if he felt the same he made a suggestion that five day turnarounds should be avoided:

“I think Easter is Friday to Monday, so Sunday to Friday is a well worn path for everyone. It is nothing out of the ordinary. It is reasonably common I would have thought, we had a bunch last year.

“We actually went to Toulouse and played in 39 degrees heat, had a day of eight hours of travel and then played Wigan at home on Thursday after 62 days without a home game on a five day turn around.

“It is something our players are used to but it is not without difficulty and it is something the game could also consider especially with welfare, we are focusing on physical contact but do we need to have five day turn arounds or can we find a better way with scheduling.”

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