Leeds Rhinos figure addresses Steve McNamara links and makes Brad Arthur point

Jamie Jones-Buchanan has commented on the possibility of Steve McNamara taking over at Leeds Rhinos next season.

McNamara was sacked by Catalans Dragons earlier this week after almost eight years in charge at the Stade Gilbert Brutus after a tough start to the 2025 Super League season. The decision came after three straight losses in all competitions and with the club sitting eighth in the Super League table.

However, there has already been talk about his next job, with McNamara being linked with a move to Leeds Rhinos. Brad Arthur is currently in charge at Headingley, but the Australian is only contracted until the end of the season and is widely expected to return Down Under.

McNamara is the man being considered as a replacement, according to reports, and that notion was put to Jones-Buchanan, who will take over as the Rhinos‘ chief executive next season, on Friday night by Sky Sports’ Brian Carney.

Leeds Rhinos’ Jamie Jones-Buchanan on Steve McNamara

Asked if McNamara will be head coach at Leeds in 2026, Jones-Buchanan said: “Brad Arthur is the current head coach and he’s doing an amazing job. He’s obviously been really clear and transparent about the fact that at some point, he wants to go back to the NRL.

“That’s up to Ian Blease who will be doing a lot of proprietary work and having conversations with potential replacements, but as it is now, no. Brad Arthur is where he is and he’ll stay where he is and he’s doing a great job at the minute.”

Summing up the legacy McNamara has left in Perpignan, the Leeds man added: “He’s done a great job. I was there at Leigh Sports Village when he stopped them from going down and since then he’s had 227 games, but the 57 per cent (win percentage) is irrelevant when you look back in history.

“It’s the fact that he’s won Challenge Cups, succeeded in the Million Pound Game and he’s been in Grand Finals. I once referred to him as like a Merovingian king, he had so much reverence and prestige in the south of France and he’s a development guy as well, he’s brought so many players through the system, I think he’ll be remembered for a lot of good reasons.”