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.
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“One of his first few games as Leeds coach was against Saints at our place and I spoke to him. He’s such a nice guy and even asked how my wife and kids were – he remembered my missus from when she was just my girlfriend. Rohan wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s a good coach as well.”
Saints and Leeds have both won eight Grand Finals and have also claimed a ‘three in a row’, with the defending champions now bidding to set a new record by winning a fourth straight title.
“St Helens versus Leeds Rhinos is an iconic fixture isn’t it?” added McCarthy-Scarsbrook. We’ve both won three in a row and it’s a bit of fairytale that we can win four in a row but it’s Leeds who are trying to stop us get that record.
“All the hurt they inflicted on Saints in our previous four losses against them in Grand Finals, we can out that right this weekend. It’s going to be an absolutely electric atmosphere because both clubs will take so many fans and I’m so glad to be a part of it. I think when I hang up my boots I will look back at this one as something special. I bet it’ll be a great game to watch and I just hope we can get the win.”
St Helens’ win over Salford Red Devils in last weekend’s play-off semi-final was chiselled on aggression, with the home pack laying a formidable platform during the opening 40 minutes.
“Leeds have got a great side from one to seventeen,” said McCarthy-Scarsbrook. “They started against Wigan last week very aggressively as well, so it’s going to be two aggressive teams going at it for the first 25 to 30 minutes.
“Mikolaj Oledzki has had a great season for Leeds and will be up against Matty Lees, then you’ve got Iggy (Agnatius Passi) against Matt Prior if Prior starts. It’s a hell of a match up because Iggy is just an absolute wrecking ball and Leeds is an incredible workhorse who will do everything all day every day. I think it will be a classic Grand Final and hopefully we can get over the line.”
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