Cameron Smith says it meant everything to Leeds to be able to deliver their biggest Headingley win in three years on Rob Burrow’s emotional return.
Rampant Rhinos produced an emphatic 54-0 destruction of Huddersfield in Friday's motor neurone disease awareness game. Leeds legend Burrow - diagnosed with the terrible condition four years ago - addressed fans with wife Lindsey before the Betfred Super League clash in touching scenes which prompted tears and laughter. Daughters Macy and Maya took over the Sky Sports’ on-field pre-match build-up having already danced in a routine featuring 777 local schoolchildren, a nod to their dad’s famous shirt number.
It all generated an electric atmosphere in the 14,590 crowd and the players followed up with the ruthless nine-try walloping of their West Yorkshire rivals. Loose forward Smith, 24, said: “They don’t do things in halves here do they? We were out to do warm-ups and the stadium erupted when Rob came onto the camera with him and his daughters as well. Credit to them and Lindsey as well and for us to put a show on like that.
“It will mean the world to them. And it means the world to us. It was awesome we could do that for him tonight.”
As Rhinos ended a four-game losing run, Aussie stand-off Blake Austin led the way with a virtuoso performance that eight-time Grand Final winner Burrow would have been proud of. On the silky ex-Warrington, Canberra and Great Britain ace, Smith said: “People underestimate the size of him.
“He’s such a skilful player but when he takes the line on he has some feet, a little bit of a show and that strength as well. It’s almost impossible to defend him on his day. We just need to get the ball in his hands as much as possible when he’s taking the line on like that. And he kicked really well tonight; his all-round game was awesome.”
Smith, whose smart pass set up Sam Walters’ opening try, limped off with a knee injury in the second half which makes him doubtful for Thursday’s trip to Warrington. But he's become an increasingly influential - and creative -player in Rohan Smith's side. He said: "I'm just enjoying my role at the moment in midfield. But for me to do that everyone else has to buy into fulfilling their roles.
"It comes down to the detail in the week, with Grixy, Chev (Walker) and Rohan giving us that little detail in the week on what specifics to use and my job is just to execute it and that’s what I've done. I do feel like I'm growing with every game and week to week taking little things from each. This has been my most consistent year so far and I just want to carry on with it and carry on being a pivotal player in this team."
