Smith happy with attacking and defensive display after Giants win

Earlier this evening, Leeds Rhinos Academy recorded one of their biggest wins of the season against Huddersfield Giants Academy as twelve tries saw the young Rhinos seal back-to-back league wins for the first time since April.

Coming out of the RFL's law trial in the middle of summer, the young Rhinos have responded with big wins against Wakefield on home soil, as well as a 60-point haul on the road against a Giants side, who celebrated beating Leeds at the start of the season. Four months later, it was Smith walking off the pitch at Laund Hill with a smile on his face as he watched his side's attacking threat and defensive resolve. 

Speaking after the game, he said: "I'm very happy with tonight's performance. To concede just ten points in a full game is really pleasing. With the new rules trial now past, we've been focusing on us. That's involved us working hard from inside and working hard for a team mate too. I think we showed that tonight."

A number of individual players, including Jack Sinfield and Riley Lumb, were picked out as having a strong impact on how the final score turned out, but Smith was quick to comment that the wider group of players had shown development from when he took the reigns in November 2022.

"I'm pleased with the individual progress of some of the guys," he said. "You look at Jack Sinfield, I thought he was outstanding. Riley Lumb as well but I think there was a bunch of guys out there that really showed development in their game. The way that they've practised all week has looked good. We spoke about looking cohesive with the ball and working hard for each other and that's what they did tonight.

"I think what we are starting to see now are the fruits of our hard work and team work as well. I've said before that it takes time to really gel and I think we are starting to see that now."

Even with a light squad to pick from at points in 2023, the Rhinos welcomed back prop Joe Phillips and winger Kyden Frater to the squad that faced the Giants. Frater was straight back into try-scoring form with two scores, whilst Phillips picked up his first try in Rhinos colours since joining the club as a 14-year-old scholar. "It's difficult when you've been out for eight to ten weeks so they're probably not back to 100% yet," said Smith when asked about getting the duo back. "It is another step on the ladder of their recovery, which is pleasing for me, and they'll make another one against Wigan in two week's time."

Despite midseason trials, working with new staff and coaching a set of new players, it's been a rollercoaster year for the former Castleford and Wigan player and with one game left, he looks back at the year so far with fondness. "It's definitely been enjoyable. It's obviously a challenge coming to a new club, not just for me but for the players as well who have got used to new coaching team. We'll see the rewards of that further down the line. It might take until next year but it's been a good year so far."

Smith travels to Wigan next Saturday with the Reserves as they take on the Warriors in a rearranged fixture at Robin Park, before he arrives back in Leeds in a fortnight's time to take on the Cherry and White's Academy at Stanningley in the final game of the Academy season on Thursday 7th September, KO 7pm.