Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar 'gutted' for Cameron Smith over broken jaw

The 21-year-old loose-forward, who has made the second-highest number of tackles in Betfred Super League this year, was hurt in a training accident last week. A surgeon’s report confirmed there were no complications, but Agar admitted he is “really gutted and disappointed” for Smith who had been ever-present this season.

“It was pretty innocuous; it wasn’t in a reckless type of contact or collision,” Agar said of Smith’s injury. “It wasn’t one where a heavy blow rocks his head back, it was a glancing blow - somebody went low on him and he glanced the side of his face on somebody’s arm. He felt it straight away.”

Agar added: “It is unfortunate; sometimes contact is a necessary evil - you only have to get it a fraction wrong, or sometimes not wrong at all and, unfortunately in this case, we’ve picked an injury up.

“With a week off and the way we have been defending, contact played a major part in our week’s training last week, but we are disappointing for Cam. We had a positive week and got a lot into them and right towards the back end of the week he picked that up. His team-mates are feeling for him.

“He has got a strong stance on it - he will come back stronger, but it’s always pretty sickening when something like this happens.”

Meanwhile, Agar said a decision has not yet been made on whether full-back Jack Walker will return from injury against Salford Red Devils on Saturday. He has not played since suffering a fractured foot against Warrington in February, but is now back in full training, and Agar confirmed: “He has a chance. We have to make sure we get enough miles in his legs; he plays in a very physically demanding position.

“We have to make sure there are no after-effects with his foot. He trained pretty well last week; obviously we are cautious about how much we put him through, but we will assess him at the end of the week.”

Half-back Richie Myler (hamstring) and stand-off Rob Lui (ankle) are both available after missing Leeds’ last two games.

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