Former Leeds Rhinos star Lee Smith has spoken of his pride after his son Kai Taylor-Smith was awarded Academy terms with the eight-time Super League champions. The Rhinos have handed contracts to twelve of the club’s Scholarship players – including 16-year-old Taylor-Smith – that will see them join the Under 18 Academy set-up next season.
Fergus McCormack, Jack Purtill, Harry Taylor, Mason Corbett, Riley Sunderland, Mark Nelson, Bobby Hartley, Archie Hurford, Declan Ementon, Ben Findlay and Joe Phillips will also make the progression up the system. Smith, who helped the Rhinos to three successive Grand Final wins between 2007 and 2009, scoring in all three title deciders, told Leeds Live: “Like any dad would be at this stage, I’m immensely proud of Kai.
“I’m just happy that he’s enjoying his rugby league because that’s everything when you play sport. His career will go whichever way it goes and, at such a young age, you don’t know how far he could go. But right now I couldn’t be any happier with where he’s at.
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“Leeds have been fantastic with his development these past two years and he’s really come on loads. John Bastian is someone I’ve known for a long time and he’s really good at developing not just rugby players but young men. And I can’t speak highly enough of Mark Butterill because he’s been absolutely fantastic with Kai during these past two years and also with us as parents. All round, the club has been great with Kai and he’s loving it there.”
Taylor-Smith played for his dad’s old amateur club Drighlington before joining Hunslet Parkside. Like his father, Taylor-Smith is ostensibly a full-back who can operate across the backline.
Smith explained: “Kai prefers playing full-back to any other position as he’s quite an elusive runner and sharp with the ball in the hand, plus he’s quite sharp defensively too. I’m not sure where Leeds see him playing, but as his dad I see him as a full-back.
“Kai has played rugby since he was seven and has the ability to play both codes because he’s a back-three player. His body is in good shape, he probably needs a good pre-season which he will get next year, and he’s probably got another growth spurt in him.
“He will probably then develop power and speed, which is exciting because I know how proud he is to represent Leeds because it means everything. I’ve got two other young boys, Charlie and Oliver, who are 10 and eight, and they play rugby union up at Yarnbury. They play with their schoolfriends and they absolutely love it as well, so hopefully they can come through too.”
Former Super League stars having sons coming through the professional ranks has become an increasingly common theme in recent times. Leon Pryce’s son Will has risen to prominence at Huddersfield Giants while at Jarrod O’Connor, Morgan Gannon and Jack Sinfield have made their mark at Headingley this season.
Smith added: “It’s been brilliant to see the next generation coming through. Will is doing fantastically well at Huddersfield and watching him on a Friday night on Sky is brilliant.
“When I watch rugby league, I want to see the Jai Fields and Bevan Frenchs of this world because they are brilliant players and so exciting to watch. But when it’s a young English lad, it makes it even more special, especially being Prycey’s lad. When I’m tuning in to watch Huddersfield, I’m doing so to watch young Will really.”
Smith, meanwhile, says he is delighted to have seen the Rhinos enjoy a steady renaissance under Rohan Smith. Remembering his own playing days at Headingley, Smith said: “That Leeds squad was the tightest group I’ve ever been involved in as a professional rugby player.
“None of us really see much of each other any more, which is sad really because we spent every day together when we were team-mates. This current Leeds team have had so many injuries and suspensions this season, but they’re up there fighting for a play-off place. I really hope they can kick on even further and really challenge the likes of St Helens and Wigan when it matters most. As a club, the Rhinos will always be in my heart.”
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