The RFL

Outgoing Leeds Rhinos coach Tony Smith is tipping his successor, Brian McClennan, to continue the resurgence of the newly-crowned engage Super League champions.

Smith ended his four-year spell in charge at Headingley Carnegie with Saturday’s stunning 33-6 Grand Final victory over last year’s champions St Helens to go full-time with Great Britain.

The 40-year-old Australian was hailed by Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield as the greatest coach in the club’s history after taking the Rhinos to three Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup final in his four seasons and Smith himself admits McClennan will have a tough act to follow.

McClennan, 45, who quit his job as New Zealand coach in July when offered the Leeds post, will take up a two-year contract on December 1 but he has already been in touch with his predecessor.

"I have spoken to Brian recently," said Smith. "He rang to wish me well. He will do a great job.

"I suppose it does make it a tough act to follow but the club is in a pretty healthy state and it will be put into very good hands.

"I don’t want people to put pressure on the new coach. He has to have time to develop his own methods with the club.

"But it’s the players who make a coach and really they are a self-coaching team at the moment and a very smart bunch."

McClennan, who guided the Kiwis to a spectacular victory over Australia in the 2005 Tri-Nations Series at Elland Road in his first year in charge after succeeding St Helens coach Daniel Anderson, will oversee Leeds’ preparations for their traditional Boxing Day friendly.

He will then take the team to Florida in January for their pre-season training camp which will culminate in a challenge match against South Sydney Rabbitohs.

McClennan has been spending time recently with the Rabbitohs as part of their partnership agreement with Leeds.

His first big match will be the annual Carnegie World Club Challenge with Australian champions Melbourne Storm, which looks certain to be held in England for the ninth successive year.

In 2005 Leeds drew a crowd of 37,028 to Elland Road for the WCC with Canterbury Bulldogs and the temptation will be to stage a repeat if agreement can be reached with Leeds United.

The Headingley capacity is just under 21,000 and, after averaging crowds of more than 17,558 this season, the Rhinos can expect another bumper attendance for the visit of the Storm.

"The city of Leeds has got something to celebrate," said Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.

"We’re now looking forward to another crack at the World Club Challenge and I think it will be over here in Leeds."

The WCC is likely to be held in late February, after the start of the engage Super League season on the weekend of February 2-3.

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