Loss of key duo could hurt Leeds - Tony Smith

It could take Leeds years to fill the void created by the loss of inspirational leaders Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock, f ormer coach Tony Smith has warned.

Smith worked with both former captains of the national side during his time at the helm of England and Great Britain as well as in his four seasons at Headingley, where he guided the Rhinos to two Grand Final triumphs.

"Leeds have got that difficult task of replacing some absolute champions who have been huge influences in their club," Smith said. "Leeds will be hoping they've done that overnight, the rest of us will be hoping it's going to take a little while."

Smith's Warrington will be the first opponents for the reigning champions when the 2016 First Utility Super League gets under way at Headingley on Thursday night.

The Wolves finished a disappointing sixth in 2015 but are expected to be among Leeds' main challengers for the title this year after recruiting the likes of Kurt Gidley, Tom Lineham, Jack Hughes and Joe Westerman.

Veteran Australian utility player Gidley, in particular, is expected to have a big influence as he brings his vast experience to bear on a team that is still only just coming to terms with the departure of stalwarts Lee Briers and Adrian Morley at the end of the 2013 season.

"It's tough to replace champions or people who have been very influential," Smith said. "Briers has probably been the hardest one for us. It's hard when you lose someone who gets the team round the park and remains calm in big situations.

"Leeds will be hoping that they've found those replacements but sometimes it's difficult to find that person straight away. We're hoping Kurt, with his experience, can come in and do some of that role for us."

Leeds are hoping young Liam Sutcliffe can fill Sinfield's playmaking role after impressing last year until sustaining a serious knee injury, while Australian Keith Galloway and Ireland international Anthony Mullally have been recruited to plug the front-row gaps caused by the retirement of Peacock and Kylie Leuluai.

Rhinos coach Brian McDermott, who worked as an assistant under Smith at Headingley, admits it has been impossible to find like-for-like replacements and says the club must plot a new course in their absence.

"The danger is that we go about things in the same manner and try and replace them with Keith Galloway or Beau Falloon," McDermott said. "It doesn't work like that.

"In my time as Leeds coach, Danny Buderus, Keith Senior and Ali Lauitiiti have all retired and every time those three legends of players retired, people have said how do you replace them?

"Well you don't - and you don't try. You recruit, progress, evolve and find a slightly different way of doing things."

Danny McGuire has inherited the captaincy from his old half-back partner and says that, although he has learned a lot of about the job from Sinfield, he is aiming to stamp his own mark on the role.

"Kev's persona and the way he carries himself, he's very relaxed and very calm, that's the way he went about his leadership," McGuire said.

"Everyone has got their own way of going about things. I'm going to try and just do it my way, realising that I've picked up a lot of great things that Kev's done along the way."