Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith and his Leeds United counterpart Jesse Marsch have promised to work together in the years to come for the benefit of both of the city's sporting teams. Smith and Marsch have met one another regularly in recent weeks, particularly in and around the Rhinos' run to the Super League Grand Final last month.
With both men self-confessed fans of many other sports beyond their own, the duo are looking to forge a strong bond between Leeds' two big sporting brands. Smith, who recently attended a training session at Thorp Arch, admitted he is already learning new methods and principles from Marsch and the world of football he will integrate into the Rhinos' preparations for 2023.
"It was great to see practice out there earlier and see how things get done," he told the Rugby League World Cup. "Setting the scene and the culture, and seeing how the players interact, you can learn a lot from that and see how the environment is led. It gets me excited about our pre-season ahead, to get some new ideas and new exposure."
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Marsch admitted he has been a keen follower of the Rhinos since forging a friendship with Rohan Smith, and like his Australian counterpart, said he will look to learn from rugby league to the benefit of his plans for the Premier League club.
He said: "I knew about the Rhinos and over the last few weeks, I told Rohan I've followed them a lot because of the great run they'd been on. I want to go (to a Rhinos match), I've been invited to one match, but maybe next time. I'm loving the ruby culture we have in the city. The passion we have in the community, the fans we have in Yorkshire is really special.
"One of the things I love about sport is looking how different sports do things, and we've spoke about having a shared relationship where we can watch each other, see how we train and see what the science behind each others' sports is. There's a lot to be learned from different disciplines."
The pair were speaking to the Rugby League World Cup to promote the upcoming men's semi-final at Elland Road - a prospect Smith admitted he is looking forward to savouring having visited the stadium to watch football on many occasions during his youth.
"I had the fortune of living in Leeds as a teenager and I understood the importance of the Rhinos to the city," Smith said.
"Going to Headingley was always a privilege but the thing that opened my eyes the most was going to Elland Road as a 14-year-old. Arsenal against Leeds United, and the atmosphere was amazing. How much the team means to the people is something I feel privileged to be part of, something that means so much to people.
"People in this country especially know the Premier League means so much to everyone, whether football or rugby is your first, it's always a privilege to play on those big stages. Old Trafford meant so much to everyone, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Elland Road looks like with a full house for rugby league, it's going to be exciting."
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