Rohan Smith has revealed how conversations with his uncle Tony helped convince him he was the right man to become the new Leeds Rhinos coach and try transform the club's ailing fortunes, but has played down talk they will be reuniting together at Headingley in 2023. The 40-year-old was announced as Richard Agar's successor on Wednesday, with the former Bradford boss given the sizeable task of helping guide the Rhinos away from the Super League relegation zone.
Smith was chosen after what Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington described as an 'exhaustive' process to find the club's next head coach. However, he revealed he also conducted his own due-diligence on the size of the task awaiting him in West Yorkshire, with extensive conversations with the current Hull KR coach as well as Chev Walker, a former ally of Smith's during his time in charge of Bradford Bulls.
And those conversations helped assure him it was the right role for him. "I actually had a few messages with Tony during the time of the process," Smith said on Thursday. "I already knew a big factor about the perception of the club from outside is that it's well-resourced, well-managed and everything is in place really.
