I know Tony will want to squash me as usual
AGAR OUT TO HOLD COURT AGAINST HIS OLD MENTOR
HULL KR V LEEDS 2.45PM
RICHARD AGAR knows all about the mind games of opposing coach Tony Smith – on the squash court as well as the rugby field.
The pair are close friends from the days that then Leeds boss Smith invited aspiring coach Agar to spend time at Headingley and they later worked together at Warrington.
This afternoon they are on opposite sides, with Agar now in charge of the Rhinos and looking to be more successful against Smith than he has been at racket sports.
Agar said: “The only problem with playing Tony is that he tries to head work you on the squash court.
“We’ve had some battles on the court over the years but not for a while. The games are less and less now, mainly because we’re both probably not in the peak fitness we were at one stage in our lives.
“There’s a guy at Pontefract Squash Club, Malcolm Willstrop, who’s a very esteemed squash coach and big rugby league fan. We like to get over and join in the odd training session.
“Tony will tell you different, but he probably had my measure.
“It was always close but every three or four games I’d win one and he’d win two or three.”
Agar’s side were emphatic winners when the teams met last Friday, dumping the Robins out of the Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 48- 18 victory.
While Rovers’ season is effectively now over – they are 10th in league, the Rhinos are still chasing both major trophies in the revamped campaign. Smith, who is set to give the talented Will Tate a debut today, has overseen a change in approach at Hull KR that offered hope beyond this season – and Agar is convinced the Australian is the right man to take the club forward in the long term.
Agar, whose side are fourth in Super League, said: “We’re very good mates. From my early days at York, Tony opened his doors to me as a young coach coming through and I spent a bit of time with him at Leeds.
“We kept a relationship through then and I subsequently worked with him. For any coach that’s a wonderful learning experience.
“I really believe that Tony’s values and beliefs on rugby league will stand the test of time, regardless of trends in the game and how it’s played. Some of his fundamental core views and values are true to what rugby league should be in my opinion.”