Chev Walker says head coach Rohan Smith has initiated a “mindset shift” at Leeds Rhinos - and is making a “massive difference” throughout the entire club. Assistant coach Walker has worked with the Australian before at Bradford Bulls so already knew what he was all about long before his mid-season appointment last April.
Smith, of course, helped turn Leeds from relegation danger to Grand Finalists last term. But now he has had a full pre-season to get to work with his squad and fully get his ideas across ahead.
“Without a doubt, Rohan’s doing that,” said Walker. And just integrating all the grades, right from scholarship upwards; he’s having an influence right through the club. There’s been a mindset shift and the lads are really buying into it, working hard and becoming better people and better players. He’s making a massive difference to the club - which he did that in a short period - but this pre-season has been really good.”
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Results haven’t come in their friendlies with Saturday’s loss at Leigh Leopards following on from a Boxing Day defeat against Wakefield Trinity But Leeds are primarily concerned with getting things right for their Super League opener at Warrington Wolves on February 16. Meanwhile, he can see the similarities with Tony Smith - Rohan’s uncle who was head coach when Rhinos won their first Grand Final in 2004, with Walker playing centre.
“Yes. I suppose it’s the Smith way,” he said, about the famous rugby league family. “I’ve only met Brian (Smith) briefly but they just capture you and they challenge you to be better and to think about things differently. But the way they deliver things as well, it’s full of detail, full of care. You know everything they are doing has been thought out for the betterment of the team.
“So, as a coach myself now, it’s great to have that influence as a player - with Tony - and now as a coach with Rohan. They develop everybody. That’s the good thing about them. They want the game to be the best it can be. I’m really pleased with how it’s going and I’m just learning all the time.”
Rhinos fell just short against defending champions St Helens at Old Trafford in September. Along with Warrington, they are 8/1 to take the title in 2023 behind favourites Saints, Wigan and Catalans. Asked what Rhinos can achieve, Walker insisted: “We’ve not spoken about it.
“Rohan’s big thing - and this is genuine, not just a media thing - is that it’s day by day asking ‘are we better than yesterday?’ And take the games week by week. There’s a long game in plan in terms of development but winning is a bi-product of getting better. That’s what we’re looking at: keeping improving.”
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