Six candidates to replace Richard Agar as Leeds Rhinos head coach

Richard Agar announced he would be stepping down as Leeds Rhinos head coach this morning in an emotive farewell speech.

Though Agar is expected to take some kind of backroom role staff at Headingley in the future, it has left Leeds needing a permanent head coach.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Sean Long will take over in an interim period, but just who will replace him full-time?

Daryl Powell

With Daryl Powell and Warrington Wolves not really firing on all cylinders at present, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for the former Leeds Rhinos boss to return to Headingley as the Prodigal Son. With a knowledge of how Leeds tick and with the ability to get the most out of a playing squad, Powell would perhaps be the number one choice on Rhinos fans’ lips. However, having left Castleford Tigers for a big-money move to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, would he really be tempted so soon into his tenure at a new club?

Tony Smith

Tony Smith is out of contract at the end of the year with no movement yet on the Hull KR front about his future. Of course, the Robins would probably want to keep the veteran Australian considering how well he has done at Craven Park, taking Rovers from perennial strugglers to a play-off side in 2021. With an eye for a gem from the Championship, Smith has turned Hull KR into a hard-working, determined team and it’s quite clear that all of his players would run through a brick wall for him. Would he be looking for a move back to Headingley, though?

Sean Long

Having deputised under Richard Agar for the past few seasons, Sean Long has perhaps been biding his time for a head coaching role – whether at Leeds or otherwise. However, with Agar departing, it gives the former St Helens halfback to showcase his credentials on a big stage. It’s common for ex-assistant coaches to get the head coaching position if they show their worth in an interim basis so this is Long’s time to shine. His rugby union links could also be handy.

Danny Ward

Although he has only just taken a role with a rugby union side down south, Danny Ward has a burgeoning reputation in rugby league. With how well Ward did at the London Broncos – taking them into Super League and then almost keeping them there with points difference the only problem – there is no surprise that many Leeds fans are calling for a return ‘home’ for the former Rhinos prop.

Kevin Sinfield

It truly would be a remarkable move if Kevin Sinfield got the head coaching job at Leeds, but stranger things have happened. Having moved to rugby union to become Leicester Tigers’ defence coach, Sinfield has helped shore up the Tigers’ ranks – so much so that they are within touching distance of the English Premiership title. A Leeds legend in every sense of the word, it would be a gamble given his incredible reputation at Headingley already, but imagine if it paid off.

Shaun Wane

This one is perhaps the one that is most out of left field given Shaun Wane’s big role at Wigan Warriors. Wane returned to his hometown club to take a leadership position following a poor 2021 Super League season for the club. With the England head coach role to contend with, too, it may be difficult to imagine Wane taking on a head coaching role at Leeds. However, it depends if his appetite to coach a Super League side with incredible facilities and a top team would be able to lure him away from the DW Stadium.