SO SPECIAL TO FOLLOW DAD SAYS JARROD
LEEDS RHINOS rookie Jarrod O’Connor admits it will be “surreal” walking out at Old Trafford – especially behind his dad.
The young hooker’s try crucially put his side in front in Friday’s epic 20-8 semi-final win at Wigan.
It means Leeds, who were 11th in April and crisis-torn, battle it out with Saints in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final.
And it was announced last week that ex-Great Britain prop Terry O’Connor (below) has been chosen to walk out the trophy on the night.
A four-time Grand Finalist, the Sky Sports pundit was part of the Wigan team who beat Leeds in the inaugural Grand Final in 1998.
Jarrod, 21, wasn’t even born then and – on the prospect of walking out with his dad at the Theatre of Dreams – he said: “I’ve not even asked him about it yet. I just saw it on Twitter.
“It will be a special occasion, especially if we get to lift it.
“I go every year to watch the Grand Final and the fact I’m now going to be in it is surreal. I can’t believe it.”
Neither can most Leeds fans, who feared their side might get relegated after winning just one of their opening 10 games. But little-known Aussie coach Rohan Smith has transformed the Rhinos since arriving in May.
They only sneaked into the play-offs with a win against Castleford in the last regular round. But now fifth-placed Leeds have knocked out Catalans and Wigan away to raise hopes of lifting their first title since 2017.
Much is down to their remarkable defensive resolve and O’Connor, who scored his first try in Leeds colours, added: “I just couldn’t see us losing this game.
“But I also can’t imagine playing at
Old Trafford.
“It’s something I’ve always grown up wanting to do and just knowing we’re going to do it next week, I can’t get it in my head yet.”