Ex-Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar reveals he turned down incredible coaching offer early in the Super League season

When Richard Agar stepped down as Leeds Rhinos head coach earlier in the season, it was the end of a weird era at Headingley.

The former Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC head coach had taken over from Don Furner midway through 2019 in a bid to stave off relegation.

He did just that, but it was never meant to be a permanent role, but Agar impressed enough to be given the crack full-time – and it certainly worked.

The Yorkshireman helped guide Leeds to a Challenge Cup success in 2020 before a tough season in 2021 and an even tougher start to the 2022 season.

However, Agar has now revealed that he had an incredible job offer at the start of 2022 that would have seen him return to Australia.

“I had an opportunity at the beginning of this season to work with a Sydney-based club,” Agar told BBC Radio Leeds.

“When we returned home from St George we returned earlier than we expected due to family reasons.

“I did always have a desire to give it another crack.

“When the opportunity came last year we were in the height of Covid and the international borders were down you still had to do two week quarantine.

“It was something that passed me by and let it slip, but I did mention I wasn’t able to take it.”

Now, though, Agar has joined the New Zealand Warriors as assistant coach on a two-year deal, starting from 2023.

After starting his coaching career with the York City Knights, Agar stepped up to the Super League where he became boss of Hull FC from 2008 to 2011 and Wakefield Trinity from 2012 to 2014.

He was with the Warrington Wolves from 2014-2017 as an assistant coach to Tony Smith, helping them to the Challenge Cup Final and Super League Grand Final in 2016, before becoming head coach with the Rhinos from 2019 until early this season. In 2020 he led Leeds to victory over Salford in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Agar has also previously coached France, taking the side to the quarter-finals in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. Along with Webster, he joined Toa Samoa’s coaching staff this year.