The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
The Ashes are still four months away but Jonny Bairstow has already given one Australian at Headingley a lesson in Bazball.
The England and Yorkshire batsman is a big Leeds Rhinos fan and met their boss Rohan Smith at a Rugby League World Cup match last autumn.
As they sat together at Headingley, Bairstow told Smith the secrets of the Test team’s new carefree, attacking approach under coach Brendon McCullum – and the Aussie now wants to bring Bazball to rugby league.
‘It was good to have a chat with someone who loves rugby league but plays a different sport,’ Smith explains to Sportsmail ahead of the Rhinos’ Super League opener at Warrington on Thursday. ‘I am very inquisitive about other sports and the mentality that goes into performing at the highest level.
‘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.
The Ashes are still four months away but Jonny Bairstow has already given one Australian at Headingley a lesson in Bazball
The England and Yorkshire batsman is a big Leeds Rhinos fan and met their boss Rohan Smith at a Rugby League World Cup match last autumn
As they sat together at Headingley, Bairstow told Smith the secrets of the Test team’s new carefree, attacking approach under coach Brendon McCullum
‘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 on Monday.
But the 41-year-old’s 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 never played rugby league professionally but coaching is in his blood. His father Brian had a stellar career, including spells in charge of Hull FC, Bradford and Wakefield.
‘It’s been a lifetime of education from him,’ says Smith. ‘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. If I can do a little bit of what he’s done 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. This campaign, he wants to go one better.
‘The expectation at this club is to win,’ he adds. ‘Last season, we had a good finish, but we didn’t win anything, so it’s all to play for this year.’
