Leeds Rhinos assistant coach Chev Walker admits he has been given no clarity on his future at Headingley beyond the end of the current Super League campaign. Walker has played an important role in West Yorkshire over the last couple of months, stepping up following the sacking of Rohan Smith to take on the head coach role on an interim basis, alongside Simon Grix.
The pair led Leeds Rhinos to results over Leigh Leopards and London Broncos but they have since returned to their assistant roles with Leeds appointing Brad Arthur as head coach until the end of the season. Arthur will take charge of his first game at Headingley this weekend and Walker will be keen to see the Rhinos bounce back from last week’s loss at Warrington Wolves by beating his former club Hull KR.
What the future holds for Leeds, though, is uncertain. While a permanent stay hasn’t been ruled out, as it stands Arthur is only in place for the next 10 Super League games and the potential play-off campaign that could follow, and it seems Walker finds himself in a similar boat.
Chev Walker make Leeds Rhinos’ future admission
Credit: Imago Images
The former Great Britain centre’s contract runs until the end of the season and he insists he has been given no assurances about what the future might hold.
“I’m off contract and there’s all sorts of stuff that needs to be sorted before that,” Walker admitted. “I’m not going to panic on what I’m doing next year when I’ve got to focus on this year.
“It’s about the here and now and it’s about earning that next bit of security. And if that doesn’t come then you look for different avenues.
“That’s sport and I will be doing everything I can to put myself in a position to be kept on in an ideal situation but that depends on who is appointed as permanent head coach after this year.”
On working with Arthur, formerly of Parramatta Eels, Walker added: “I’m very much excited. It’s a good a chance for us to learn so any opportunity I get as a young coach to spend time with an experienced coach will be good for us.
“I don’t know too much about him but I have watched his team play when they got to a Grand Final. They played a great style.”
