Rohan Smith reacts to memorable Leeds Rhinos win as he provides injury latest

Rohan Smith has quickly turned his attention to next week's trip to Old Trafford after leading Leeds Rhinos to a first Super League Grand Final since 2017.

Seven days on from a tireless effort in Perpignan, the Rhinos produced another heroic performance to end Wigan Warriors' perfect home record in Friday's semi-final.

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Leeds have gone from 11th to the Grand Final in the space of five months under Smith but there is no chance of the Rhinos head coach basking in the glory of a remarkable achievement.

"Personally, I didn't really know what to say or feel out there other than I'm really proud and privileged to be part of it," he said.

"It's down to a whole heap of hard work since last November or whenever training started. It always comes down to an accumulation of work over a long period of time.

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"The connectedness of the group on the field in the last two or three months is probably what held us together out there in those tough moments where we had to defend the line a lot.

"Our goal-line defence has been very good for a good period of time now. There's a lot of trust and belief and everyone is pretty calm and relaxed.

"With the dust settling a little bit, I'm starting to think about next week."

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Leeds Rhinos players celebrate after the game. (Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)Leeds Rhinos players celebrate after the game. (Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)
Leeds Rhinos players celebrate after the game. (Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)

There is a major question mark over Aidan Sezer's involvement in the Grand Final after he took a heavy knock to the head in a tackle that saw John Bateman sent off.

Smith was unsure on the result of the half-back's concussion test.

"I haven't spoken to the doctor yet," he said. "We'll talk about Aidan on the way home."

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Rhyse Martin will be available after suspension, while fellow back-rower Morgan Gannon is likely to return from a concussion.

But Smith is resigned to being without Harry Newman once again as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury.

"He won't play next week," said Smith.

Wingers Ash Handley and David Fusitu'a are also likely to sit out the decider.

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"If I had to say now, I'd say they're probably both not playing," added Smith.

Smith follows in the footsteps of his uncle Tony by guiding Leeds to Old Trafford, while father Brian coached in four Grand Finals in Australia.

But Smith junior will not be leaning on his family in the build-up to the biggest game of his coaching career to date.

"Obviously they've been there and done that," he said.

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"We feel comfortable with what we've been doing as a group so I don't think I need to be different myself.

"I'm certainly not going to ask the players to be different to how they've been.

"We'll try to treat it like another game but it's the last one of the year so it's a pretty special one."

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