From Jonny Bairstow to Jesse Marsch. . . Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith is tapping into sports outside of rugby league to gain an understanding of the mentality that goes into performing at the highest level Leeds Rhinos' coach Rohan Smith using mentality from other sports stars Smith has exchanged sporting views with Jonny Bairstow and Jesse Marsch Lifted the Rhinos from 11th in the table to fifth last season and into a Grand Final By David Coverdale For Mailonline Published: 21:46, 15 February 2023 | Updated: 22:41, 15 February 2023 e-mail View comments The Ashes are still four months away but one Australian at Headingley has already been given a lesson in Bazball. Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith is a keen cricket fan and met England and Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow at a Rugby League World Cup match last autumn. As they sat together at Headingley, Bairstow told Smith all about the Test team’s new carefree, attacking approach under Brendon McCullum - and the Aussie now wants to bring Bazball to rugby league. ‘Jonny is a big Rhinos fan,’ Smith explains to Sportsmail ahead of his side’s Super League opener at Warrington on Thursday. ‘We have had a few messages and I actually watched the Australia and Fiji World Cup game with him here. ‘It was good to have a chat with someone who loves rugby league but plays a different sport. I am very inquisitive about other sports and the mentality that goes into performing at the highest level. Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith is a fan of speaking to figures in sports outside of rugby Smith met up with Jonny Bairstow during Rugby League World Cup match last autumn ‘Some of the stuff we chatted about was around the enjoyment of the game and playing with freedom. That doesn’t mean that you hit every ball for four or six, but you have the freedom to see the ball and hit the ball. ‘That mentality can apply to rugby league - having the freedom to throw a pass without any pressure from above. It was cool to chat about that sort of stuff. ’ Smith has often tapped into other sports, exchanging regular messages with his former fellow Leeds coach Jesse Marsch, who was sacked by the Premier League club last week. ‘I went over and watched Leeds United training last year,’ he says. ‘Jesse was very hands on. You could see he is very passionate about his sport and his coaching. He lives and breathes it. ‘We kept in conversation with texts to see how each other was doing. It was good to be able to bounce ideas off with him and have a couple of messages each week from a bloke who was working in the biggest competition in the world and under a lot of pressure. ’ Smith has also spent time with bosses from rugby union, basketball and Australian rules. But his own first foray into coaching was not a team or ball sport. ‘As a 17-year-old, I started teaching swimming to four and six-year-olds,’ he reveals. ‘So, without knowing it at the time, that gave me some grounding as a coach. If you can deal with those kind of kids, you can probably deal with anything!’ Smith, though, was always destined to be a rugby league coach, even though he never played the sport professionally. His father Brian had a stellar coaching career, including spells in charge of Hull FC, Bradford and Wakefield. Former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch was another name Smith enjoyed exchanging views with Smith led the Rhinos from 11th in the table to fifth, and all the way to the Grand Final ‘It’s been a lifetime of education from him,’ says Smith, who lived in Leeds as a teenager during his dad’s days as Bradford boss and is now back with his wife and three children. ‘I am really grateful that all those conversations I had as a kid were helping to shape my own journey. ’ In the Super League this season, Smith will also pits his wits against his uncle Tony - Brian’s younger brother – who is now coach of Hull FC, having previously led Leeds to two Grand Final wins in 2004 and 2007. ‘We will be playing Hull FC not Tony, but afterwards it will be nice to have a chat and a beer,’ says Smith. ‘Tony has probably been the most influential coach in the Super League era. He’s built up a lot of clubs and had success at different teams, including here. ‘Before I came here, I asked him if there would be any reason not to take on this opportunity at such a great club. He said, “No, go for it”. He thought it would be a great opportunity for me and that I was ready for it, which was all I needed. If I can achieve a little bit of what he did here, I’d be happy. ’ Smith almost emulated his uncle immediately last season. After taking charge of the Rhinos in May, he lifted them from 11th in the table to fifth, then into the Grand Final, where they lost 24-12 to St Helens. Going into this campaign, Leeds’ youthful side are only rated as fourth favourites to win their first title since 2017, behind Saints, Wigan and Warrington. But Smith adds: ‘The expectation at this club is to win. Every Rhinos fan and sponsor expects that. Last season, we had a good finish, but we didn’t win anything, so hopefully we can get ourselves in a position to play the big ones again this year. There’s everything to play for. ’ Share or comment on this article: Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith is tapping into sports outside of rugby league e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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