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Leeds Rhinos: Boss Mac predicts big year for Smith
Lee Smith in match action.
Resurgent Lee Smith could be in for a big season, Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott predicts.
Smith made only 17 appearances for Rhinos last year and missed out on a place in their Grand Final line up to rising stars Ben Jones-Bishop and Zak Hardaker.
The Leeds-born 25-year-old was a Rhinos regular before a brief, ill-fated switch to rugby union in 2010, but has struggled to recapture that form since.
But he has been one of Rhinos’ top performers in pre-season training and impressed McDermott with his performance in last weekend’s 66-0 thrashing of Featherstone Rovers after being selected on the right-wing ahead of Jones-Bishop.
That has put Smith in pole position to start in Rhinos’ opening Stobart Super League fixture at home to Hull KR in nine days’ time.
McDermott has yet to reveal his team plans for that game, but he said: “Lee is fit and getting fitter, his head is in a good place and he is keen and hungry.
“Where Lee is in his career and with the amount he has achieved, it is good he is still that hungry and keen. The challenge is to continue to have that hunger.”
Smith – who has eight England caps – set up a try for Kallum Watkins with a well-judged kick to the in-goal and put the icing on the cake by landing 11 conversions from as many attempts.
He took on the kicking duties in place of skipper Kevin Sinfield, who was not risked in Rhinos’ final full-scale pre-season hit-out.
“He is a great natural striker of the ball,” McDermott said of his new marksman.
“Technically, you look at him sometimes and it is almost like he is throwing his leg at it, but he always seems to catch it sweet and it goes a distance.
“Kev did some work with him last week and passed on some tips, so he deserves some credit for that.
“Some of the tips he was giving him, I could see Lee adopting in the game. Eleven from 11 is not a bad strike-rate, especially with some of them being from the touchline.”
Pressure
Jones-Bishop played in a fringe Rhinos side against Hunslet Hawks in Sunday’s Leeds Brewery Lazenby Cup, tie, alongside another member of last year’s Grand Final winning team Ian Kirke.
McDermott admitted pressure for places this year will put added pressure on players and give the coaching staff an added headache.
“There is a huge amount of competition for places this year and that goes for everybody,” McDermott said.
“If somebody dips below a certain standard while playing and in the way he conducts himself, it won’t be too long before he finds himself without a place in the team.
“That is a good situation for us to be in, but it is a situation that needs to be managed.
“If someone is left out of the team for a certain reason there is a measure of pressure to make sure you help him get back, without putting too much pressure on the players who are starting.”
lThe RFL have agreed a deal that will see the governing body add Odsal Stadium to its property portfolio.
The RFL has paid an undisclosed sum in an arrangement that will allow Bradford Bulls to remain at their spiritual home as tenants.
RFL Chairman Richard Lewis said the move would bring security to Odsal, which has recently been the subject of predatory approaches.
“This arrangement is absolutely the right thing to do because it safeguards the future of one of the sport’s most famous stadia,” said Lewis.
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SupaKev
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:56 AMThe RFL bail out the Bulls and buy the stadium they play in. How can the RFL review the Bulls' next franchise bid when they own the ground. The RFL have alot of explaining to do to convince fans of other clubs that this is good for Rugby League as a whole and not just for the Bulls. Was Bradford in danger of going belly up, why were they in danger? Why did they have to approach the RFL to buy Odsal? They were paying a peppercorn rent to Bradford Council, how much are they paying to the RFL? Who is paying for the upkeep of the stadium? How can Bradford afford to subsidise their season tickets at £60 if they are going cap in hand to the RFL. Why didn't Bradford's predicament come out in the Franchise review. Those clubs that do not own their own stadium should now have a negative mark in any future franchise bid. Answers please RFL!
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