St Helens Women’s Head Coach and Men’s Assistant Matty Smith to be Featured on Love Rugby League’s ‘My Perfect Player’ in 2024
January 1, 2024 | Source: Love Rugby League
In an upcoming feature set to debut on Love Rugby League in 2024, former England international and two-time Super League champion Matty Smith will be the next guest on the ‘My Perfect Player’ series. The series invites past and present rugby league players to build their ideal player based on five key attributes: passing, kicking, speed, tackling, and rugby IQ.
Smith, who currently serves as the head coach for the St Helens women’s team and assistant coach for the men’s squad, was asked to construct his all-time dream player hypothetically. For rugby IQ, the former halfback selected his childhood hero, Sean Long, praising the former St Helens star’s unparalleled game knowledge.
“Sean Long’s understanding of the game was second to none. He could read a play before it even happened and make split-second decisions that would turn the tide of a match.”
When it came to passing, Smith highlighted the precision and consistency of his former Saints teammate, hooker James Roby. As for kicking, the coach couldn’t decide between two seasoned veterans – Lee Briers and Danny Brough – both of whom he deemed masters of the short and long kicking game.
For the tackling category, Smith looked to his past playing days, singling out former Wigan Warriors and England hooker Micky McIlorum as a player who never shied away from putting his body on the line. Finally, for sheer speed, the coach selected the legendary Martin Offiah, whose electrifying pace was simply unmatched in rugby league.
The ‘My Perfect Player’ feature aims to provide unique insights from the sport’s top talents, as they share their perspectives on the essential skills and attributes that make the ideal rugby league player. Fans can look forward to the full interview with Matty Smith when the series debuts on Love Rugby League in 2024.
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