Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook is looking forward to being reunited with Rohan Smith this weekend – well over a decade after being coached by him at London Broncos. St Helens forward McCarthy-Scarsbrook was a youngster at the Broncos when Leeds Rhinos boss Smith served on the club’s coaching staff as an assistant for two years.
At Old Trafford this weekend, the pair will be aiming to get one over each other as Saints bid to retain their crown and clinch an unprecedented fourth successive Grand Final win. Eight-time Super League champions Rhinos are bidding to halt Kristian Woolf’s side by winning their first title decider since beating Castleford Tigers in 2017. But regardless of the outcome, McCarthy-Scarsbrook will shake Smith’s hand afterwards out of a respect which is mutual.
“I know Rohan from my time at London and it’s nice to see him doing so well at Leeds,” the 36-year-old forward told Rugby League Live. “He was obviously very emotional after they won at Wigan in last week’s play-off semi-final and he’s got this Rhinos team roaring in all the right places at the moment.
