Cameron Smith has thanked Rohan Smith for helping him enjoy his rugby again after being given a licence to express himself under the Australian. The ball-playing forward has become an instrumental player ever since Smith's arrival at the club and produced one of the best performances of his career in the Rhinos' victory over Catalans Dragons last week.
Smith, by his own admission, struggled at the start of the year but has enjoyed an excellent second half of the season, playing a key role in Leeds' rejuvenated attack since Smith's arrival. He played a part in a number of Leeds' tries in France and produced a try-saving tackle to deny the Dragons in the first half.
But he puts his form down to Smith, who has deployed him in a way that not only allows him to play at his best, but enjoy himself too.
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"Rohan just wants me to express myself more," he said. "I feel like I'm now a pretty integral part of this team. We're playing as a collective at the minute and having fun, I want to be a part of it. I'm enjoying my footy and long may that continue.
"I've watched rugby my whole life and now is the time when I feel I'm being able to do what I've been doing since I'm a young kid. But for me, it's not the coaching aspect it's the way he is as a person. The way he handles things, the way he's handled me, the way he speaks to me and the other players. He does everything in the right manner.
"He knows different people need different things. I'm a guy who doesn't want someone on top of me all of the time, if I've done wrong, I know I have, I'll hold myself accountable and be better for it. I think Rohan understands that and understands his players. So I think that's the biggest change, treating people how they should be treated."
Smith was seen goading Gil Dudson after his red card in last week's victory, waving the Welsh international off after leading with the head on Aidan Sezer. The pair had been at each other for the duration of the match and Smith said: "It was a bit petty from me to be honest but when you get caught up in the moment, a few of their players were mouthing our players.
"I thought it was a big significant change for us because they seemed to have boiled over the top and we were just nice and calm. It was petty from me but it's rugby league."
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