AGAR: LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS SEAN’S A GENIUS
RUGBY LEAGUE: STAR CAN ENSURE A SUPER TIME FOR THE RHINOS
RICHARD AGAR believes rugby “genius” Sean Long can have a huge impact on Leeds’ Super League campaign.
The former St Helens and Great Britain half-back returned from Harlequins and rugby union when he became Agar’s assistant at the back end of last year.
Long now has a full pre-season with the Rhinos as they bid to add to last year’s Challenge Cup win, and Agar believes there are few better brains in the game. “When you’re talking about the geniuses of rugby league knowledge, Sean is right up there,” said Agar (below).
“I’m saying that having worked at the top levels of the game for a long time. He’s as smart a rugby league individual as you will ever come across and he is already stamping his mark here.
“His passion for rugby league is incredible – he lives and breathes it. He’s full of ideas for training methods and drills. We’re trying to hold him back and not throw everything at them. He’s been brilliant. He did a bit with us pre-season last year and then came in for the last couple of weeks.” Long won every domestic honour in the 13-man code in trophy-laden playing days, then forged a coaching career as an assistant at Salford, St Helens and with Samoa. His growing reputation as an attack coach saw him switch to union with Quins in 2019, before linking up with the Rhinos in October, citing a desire to return to working in league. “The boys have loved his presence and energy,” said Agar. “When the players came back in we gave them a presentation around some of the things we did well last year and some areas we can improve.
“There was statistical information in there and some real gaps that if we want to get up there this year and challenge, then we need to be much better at. Some of that was a nod to our coaching staff and Sean’s knowledge and detail is right up there with anybody’s in the game.”