Leeds coach Tony Smith blasts naive critics

Angry Rhinos coach Tony Smith blasted back at critics of his side's unique link-up with the England rugby union squad.

The rugby union World Cup holders are to spend three days in Leeds next week as they prepare for the start of their Six Nations campaign.

England's management asked to train alongside Rhinos after new national boss Andy Robinson decided his players could improve by working closely with the Super League champions.

Some league fans and media have claimed Rhinos should not be giving away their secrets to a rival code of rugby, but Smith today said Rhinos stand to gain just as much from the exercise as England rugby union do.

"There's been some people saying 'what's in it for Rhinos'?" said Smith.

"That is an arrogant and naive way of thinking about it.

"I've heard and read a lot of criticism from people saying we should be promoting rugby league in a better way, but we are not just doing this for the publicity.

"I feel there would be enough benefits for us to do this even if no one else knew about it. One of the things we felt we could get out of it was raising the profile of our sport.

"We have come in for some criticism from within our own sport for that, which I am disappointed about, but I would still be doing it if there was no publicity at all.

"As a club we feel we are doing the right thing for our sport by raising its profile, but I would be quite happy to continue to work with England rugby union in the future with no media coverage and keep the benefits to ourselves."

Smith said Rhinos' players and coaching staff stand to gain from close contact with the best in the 15-a-side game.

"My coaching staff are getting to work with some of the elite coaching staff in this country and possibly the world, " he said. "We would be foolish not to take that opportunity.

"As to what we will gain from it I could, for example, watch a game of hockey or a netball training session and take something away from it which would be a positive for my sport.

"We are always gaining and learning from other coaches and other sports.

"It would be arrogant to believe we won't get something out of working with the sort of people who will be here next week and that is not the sort of arrogance I want to be known for."

Smith is adamant cooperation between the two codes of rugby is the way forward.

"The two sports can survive alongside each other, as we do here at Leeds on a daily basis," he said.

"We can actually help each other to a large degree. They are not just coming here to steal our ideas.

"We are trying to develop an on-going relationship which will help each other.

"We will be learning how to do things better and we will be able to talk with other professionals about some of the positive things they do and the pit falls along the way."

Courtesy of:

Yorkshire Evening Post Online