Leeds Rhinos Part Ways with Head Coach Rohan Smith
In a surprising turn of events, the Leeds Rhinos have announced the immediate departure of their head coach, Rohan Smith. The decision, made by mutual consent, comes just a year after Smith guided the club to a Super League Grand Final appearance in his debut season.
Smith, a seasoned coach with over 20 years of experience in the NRL, joined the Rhinos in April 2022 on a contract that was set to run until the end of the 2025 season. However, the team’s struggles for consistency this year have prompted the club’s leadership to make a change.
“It is fair to say the Rhinos results and performances this season have not met all our expectations to get us back to where we want to be,” Leeds Rhinos’ Chief Executive, Gary Hetherington, stated.
The Rhinos currently sit outside the Super League play-off places, and their recent 11-0 defeat against Hull FC, who had not won in their previous 11 games, seemed to be the final straw. With Leigh Leopards set to visit Headingley on Friday, where the club will honor the memory of the legendary Rob Burrow, the Rhinos will be hoping to bounce back and keep their play-off hopes alive.
In his farewell statement, Smith expressed his belief that the Rhinos squad has the potential to continue pushing for a play-off spot in 2024, and he wished the club all the best for the future.
“I believe this team can still achieve great things and I am proud of the work that the coaching team have done to develop players, especially the next generations,” he said.
The search for a new head coach at Leeds Rhinos is now underway, with the club’s newly appointed Sporting Director, Ian Blease, tasked with carefully considering the options before making his recommendations to the board.
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