Brad Arthur offers update on Leeds Rhinos future

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has commented on his future and appears to have suggested that he could remain at Headingley for at least the 2025 season.

The subject of whether Arthur will stay or go has been one of the hot topics in Super League lately with the 50-year-old only contracted until the end of the current campaign.

He’s spoken about his desire to return to the NRL and recently explained what it would take for him to remain at Leeds Rhinos.

Speaking on Sky Sports after Leeds’ win over Wigan Warriors, Arthur explained: “They need to show me that again next week and then the week after that.”

The players will have the opportunity to do that at Magic Weekend when they face Warrington Wolves on Saturday evening, but speaking to the media at the press launch for that event Arthur has given the biggest hint yet he’ll remain at Headingley for 2025.

Leeds Rhinos boss hints at 2025 stay

The Australian has previously stated that he’s ‘not in a rush’ to leave Leeds, despite his stated NRL aspirations. He mentioned those again today but seemed to accept defeat in finding an NRL role for 2025, opening the door to a Leeds Rhinos extension.

“They’ve been talking to me throughout the whole process and trying to get something sorted so I don’t think the result has swayed them one way or the other,” Arthur told The Yorkshire Post.

“Me, Ian (Blease) and Gary (Hetherington) have been working through it. I’ve been honest the whole way through that I want to coach in the NRL but I’m a realist and I don’t feel like there will be an NRL job for me next year.”

He then reaffirmed the message he relayed to Sky Sports about requiring buy-in from the players, something he certainly got on Saturday.

Arthur explained: “I want to coach and the players are showing me that maybe I can make a difference and help them. That’s important to me because I don’t want to stay if I don’t feel like I can actually make a difference to the club. That would be a waste of everyone’s time.”

What could be key in securing his future at Headingley is his wife though with the Australian revealing that his partner will arrive in England this weekend, something that could be the final piece of the puzzle in him agreeing to extend his deal.

“My wife gets here on Saturday and I suppose she’s going to be the last piece of it, to make sure she’s comfortable. I’m sure she will be because she’s followed me around as footy has been our whole life so that won’t be an issue.”

Earlier in the day, reports from down under had named him as both ‘available’ and ‘the favourite’ for the Perth Bears role with the club expected to join the NRL for 2027, suggesting any deal Arthur does secure with Leeds Rhinos would be potentially only on a year-long basis.