Interview with Leeds Rhinos' Jarrod O'Connor
Leeds Rhinos hooker Jarrod O'Connor discusses competition for his role, learning from new No 9 Andy Ackers and how pre-season has gone so far.
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00:00 How do you think it all went?
00:02 Good. As a team I think we started a bit scratchy. We soon fixed it up at half time.
00:08 I think our attack in the second half really improved and we stuck to our shape.
00:12 So we've been going with all pre-season and I think it worked really well.
00:16 I think you made a difference when you came on. You feel you made an impact.
00:21 It's not a role that you've been playing too often.
00:23 Yeah, no. I felt like I had a good game recently. I was planning on playing nine as well.
00:30 But due to different circumstances I ended up saying 13, which I still enjoyed.
00:37 Obviously it's a good job that I can keep working on both rules as well.
00:42 So I can play wherever I'm needed and happy with my own performance and hopefully I can build off that.
00:47 Can I ask you about that? Do you still see yourself playing some character?
00:54 It's been a while since you've played, isn't it?
00:56 Yeah, no. I could be. Obviously I'm still sports-oriented. I'm still seeing it as a nine and that's my main thing to focus on.
01:06 But obviously if anything ever goes wrong and I'm on the bench it's still a position I can fill in.
01:10 I still want to fill that position to a very high standard, which I feel I can still do. So I'm really happy to play this time.
01:17 Obviously Leeds have signed a very good nine in the Athens squad. How does that affect you? Are you relishing the country's football players?
01:28 Yeah, no. Everything's still the same. It's just another competition. We're pushing each other constantly in training.
01:35 I feel like I've learnt a lot from him already and hopefully he can learn some things from me as well.
01:40 Just working together and trying to play our best rugby. I think with that extra competition it's just going to bring out the best in me as well.
01:47 So I'm really excited and just looking forward to playing for Liverpool as well.
01:51 Yeah, he brings a lot of enthusiasm. He's really happy to be here and looking forward to stepping in.
01:58 We want people who are going to be excited to play here and just look who are going to relish the opportunity to play for Leeds.
02:06 He's definitely showing what he's going to do. So I'm really excited to line up with him, especially at the start of the season.
02:12 And this is the best part of two weeks before the season starts. Do you think managering could change?
02:19 Yeah, really. I think training's been going really well and with these next few pre-season games we can get that next level intensity.
02:29 We can't really get as much in training. I think the shape's come along really well and everyone knows the rules.
02:35 I think the longer I have to be spying, the more sick it's going to make me. It's just the best.
02:42 I love it now.