Rohan Smith gives update on young star after injury

Leeds Rhinos suffered a blow in their clash against Hull FC with Morgan Gannon failing his Head Injury Assessment meaning he will miss the trip to St Helens next week.

He picked up the head injury in a tackle on Hull FC that ironically Leeds were penalised for after Blake Austin was seen as guilty of a tip tackle.

Gannon missed the Grand Final and semi-final last year through concussion protocols.

It was the last thing Leeds needed.

After the game, Leeds boss Rohan Smith gave an update on the young man.

He said:

“He failed his HIA, so we will go through the appropriate HIA’s. He is fine. He is in good spirits.”

Smith also gave his assessment of Leeds’ defence in the defeat:

“It takes some time to get your goal line defence really smooth, maybe smooth is not the right word. It takes time to find a way to execute, and keep the ball off the ground because ultimately you can have all the systems you want but it is the team with the best scramble that has the best defence at the end of the year regardless of system.

“It is system and effort that goes into it.

“As much as you train competitively, you don’t do full contact, full combat like a game there’s two points on the line.

“It takes some time to get up to speed. I have watched the NRL Trials and some top teams have been equally off.

“It is hard at this time of the year to have all systems go on every aspect. Last week we found a bit of grit in the second half, this week we found ruck speed and physical dominance but didn’t find the execution.

“Next week we will try to get a more complete performance.”