Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur has claimed that young half George Brown, who has just four senior appearances, will ‘get every opportunity’ to be the club’s Brodie Croft replacement and starting half in 2027.
That statement comes just a day after Brown signed a new long-term deal at the club and Arthur has now doubled down on the fact that the club do not intend to sign a Brodie Croft replacement, but instead build around the squad to ensure the teenage talent has all he needs to succeed.
Arthur also refuted any suggestion that the club are in a rebuild despite at least five first-team players leaving at the end of the year, with the Australian insisting that there must be a pathway for the club’s young talent, such as Brown.
On the 19-year-old and his new deal, Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:”I think it’s good from the club in terms of their belief in our pathways and the young kid.”
Currently out injured, Arthur explained that the focus is not on 2026 but instead to ensure Brown has his shot at claiming the starting spot next year.
“He’s getting there slowly. We haven’t even considered worrying about him playing this year. All we’re trying to do is make sure he’s right for day one of pre-season and give him a good couple of months into the start of the season.
“We’ve given him the guarantee that he’ll get every opportunity to make sure he’s wearing that six jersey. We can’t guarantee anyone at this time of the year what number they’ll wear next year, but we’re putting all our faith in him to work hard and earn the right to be in that six jersey.”
McCormack the blueprint for Brown in 2027
It’s a huge show of faith in the teenager but it’s a show of faith based on Brown’s ability but also of those around him, with the current example being young Fergus McCormack slotting in at full-back in place of the suspended Lachie Miller.
Arthur pointed to that, stating: “He (McCormack) comes into a good team, he’s only got to worry about himself and getting his job right, and you take the pressure off him and he’ll develop at a better rate, and they’ll then develop at a rate where they actually stay in the team and they’re not in and out, in and out, and their careers are short-lived.
“What we want to do is make sure we’re putting good players around George, and strengthen our right edge, obviously with Macca (James McDonnell) leaving, and Harry (Newman), we’ve got Birdie (Jack Bird) there. We just want to make sure that we’re putting some experience around him.”
Brad Arthur commits to Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR lose back-to-back and Captain’s Challenge rule debated – Click here to listen to this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Why Leeds Rhinos aren’t in rebuild move
After being asked about the possibility of Leeds being in a rebuild, the Rhinos coach made an impassioned statement about the club’s backing of their youth.
He said: “I don’t think it’ll be a rebuild, and I think people will be surprised about our squad next year. Bleasey (Ian Blease) is chipping away in the background, he’s got a few things going on.
“Look, we’ve got to be careful, we wanted to add depth to our squad, we’ve added depth to our squad. Then the boys are performing at a good high level, so we get interest from NRL clubs, and they take a couple of our players, but then it opens up a pathway to keep our young blokes.
“We need to show them that there is a pathway. You can’t just go in over the top of them and keep signing over the top of them all the time, what pathway you’re actually providing for them?”
Continuing, Arthur said: “We could go and sign five top-line players, and then we lose our young blokes because they can’t see the pathway and everyone’s into us. Or, you try and balance it out, bring a couple in, but also keep the options open for our young blokes who have done the job at the moment and we’ve got a good crop coming through.
“There is a plan in place, everyone’s just got to be not patient, everyone’s just got to trust and believe in the club.
“I back the coaches and I back the system. It’s not a rebuild at all, all it is is part of our development phase and part of the growth of our team, which is right from the start was always with an eye on the future, including our kids coming through the system.”
