It's not often Terry O’Connor is lost for words but he might be on Thursday.
The popular Sky Sports commentator will be working on Leeds’ clash with his former club Wigan. And son Jarrod is in action with Rhinos. The loose forward, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday, said: “Dad says he hates it when he does our games as he just wants to watch me rather than commentate.
“He’ll sometimes get lost and just be watching me - and then realise he has to talk about everyone else! He still says he gets more nervous watching me than when he played himself.”
Ex-Great Britain prop O’Connor, 50, won almost every honour going when making more than 300 appearances for Wigan between 1994 and 2004. In contrast, Jarrod’s just starting out and looking to make a place his own at Leeds. With injuries and suspensions, he played hooker in Saturday’s loss at Toulouse.
O’Connor could get a continued run there with captain Kruise Leeming ruled out for up to three months. Leeds boss Rohan Smith welcomes back Zak Hardaker - who faces Wigan for the first time since leaving in April- centre Harry Newman and utility Liam Sutcliffe on Friday. Rhinos sit ninth but believe they can still surge into the top-six play-offs..
O’Connor said: “I’m loving it at the minute here. Rohan’s helped create an environment which is just really fun, positive and we’re looking forward to the future. He’s very good with the young lads, trying to bring us all through together and that’s the perfect thing we needed. There’s eight games left and we’re three points off being in that top-six. We know we can get there.”
Second-placed Wigan thrashed Hull 60-0 on Friday with Aussie flier Bevan French scoring a Super League record seven tries. He’ll be up against Ash Handley on Friday and O’Connor said: “Ash is one of the most competitive people I know. I know he’ll see that as a massive challenge and I’ve no doubt he’ll be up for it more than anyone else. Wigan are in outstanding form but as long as we turn up with the right attitude we know what we can do.”
O’Connor arrived at Leeds as an academy loose forward when Widnes hit financial issues in 2019. He made his first team debut the following year and has recently signed a new deal until the end of 2025. He explained: “Rohan said long-term I am a loose forward. I'm still a loose forward now but he says if I can cover that hooking role as well just to make sure I’m improving in that role, it will help.
“Then, if we have only have one hooker and he needs a rest, I can go in for ten minutes or so while he gets his breath back. That’s the main aim around that hooking role but adding another skill to my game is only going to help me get in the team at the minute.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor is one of three Leeds players with famous former Super League players as dads. Stand-off Jack Sinfield, 17, is the son of Rhinos legend Kevin and teenage second-row Morgan Gannon’s dad is ex-Halifax prop Jim. All three could play against Wigan.
But O’Connor insisted: “We don’t really talk about it unless we’re taking the mick. “We like to get into Jack a bit especially as his dad was a Leeds legend. We do like to wind him up about stuff but it brings us all closer.”
Rhinos Women’s side face Wigan as part of Thursday’s televised double-header at Headingley.
