After sacking head coach Rohan Smith, Leeds Rhinos appointed Brad Arthur on a deal until the end of the season sparking questions about who will be in charge at Headingley in 2025 and now Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin has had his say on the matter.
Arthur officially starts work today, however, he was in the coaching booth alongside Chev Walker for the game last night as Leeds fell to a 30-18 defeat to Warrington Wolves. The 50-year-old Australian will have ten games to turn the club’s season around and restore them to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Sam Tomkins has claimed that it’s an impossible task as he questioned the lack of togetherness in the squad and even suggested that Brad Arthur does not watch Super League and won’t have the time to bring together such a fractured group.
Meanwhile, Ian Blease remains working behind the scenes to find a head coach for 2025, however, Jon Wilkin has given his verdict of who will eventually end up in the hot seat as he assessed the bleak situation at Headingley.
He also had his say on whether the club could make the playoffs and if Arthur even has enough time to make a recognisable change, something he clearly felt was impossible.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Wilkin said: “It’s such a short window of time, so what can actually be achieved?
“Look, improve standards, I get it – and question all of those things where they have fallen short.
“But they are cultural things that take some time to develop and he’s not going to be able to change the team.”
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Who will be Leeds Rhinos head coach in 2025?
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After the appointment of Ian Blease as Sporting Director, plenty were quick to connect the dots and declare that it meant Paul Rowley would be taking on the coaching job at Headingley. That’s something the Salford boss has refuted, however, Jon Wilkin is among those to still be advocating that it will happen in 2025.
On Brad Arthur and the situation at Leeds Rhinos, Wilkin said: “Look, for me, I don’t think long term he’s going to be the answer. I believe he will have an eye on a job in the NRL, maybe the Perth job with the new franchise that is coming there?
“But then for Ian Blease and the club, do they want a coach who is already eyeing a job back in the NRL?
“I still think Paul Rowley is the man. Paul Rowley is their man.”
Co-pundit Sam Tomkins seemed to agree with the first point, questioning how much Arthur can do in such a short time with Leeds Rhinos.
He added: “He’s got a lot to do in a very short period of time. It’s Brad Arthur’s choice that he doesn’t want to sign longer.
“I think he wants to come here and see if he is the right fit for the club and this is a club that needs change really quickly.
“They have gone for experience, someone that has had 10 years in the NRL and he’s taken a team to the NRL Grand Final. He’s got a great CV.
“How quickly he can implement some big changes at Leeds remains to be seen.”
