Leeds Rhinos news: full details & reaction as Brad Arthur contract decision announced

After 12 months of uncertainty, Arthur today (Monday) agreed a rolling contract which will keep him in the Rhinos hot seat until the end of the 2026 season. The deal includes a clause for future years which will be activated if both parties are happy to continue.

The 51-year-old Australian joined Leeds in July, 2024, two months after being sacked by NRL giants Parramatta Eels where he had been coach for the previous decade. His initial 10-game arrangement was extended the following month, until the end of this season.

While he has made it clear he is happy at Rhinos, the lure of the southern hemisphere NRL and family ties meant it was uncertain if he would commit to another campaign in Betfred Super League. Arthur is ambitious to coach again in the NRL at some stage and was heavily linked with the new Perth Bears club before that job went to former Australia boss Mal Meninga.

Though his wife and daughter are in England, his sons Matt and Jake both play for NRL outfit Newcastle Knights and he was torn between staying at Leeds and returning home to be closer to them. Jake Arthur is now understood to be on the verge of a move to Rhinos’ rivals Hull FC, which played a part in the coach’s eventual decision.

The rolling nature of the latest deal will doubtless mean speculation continues next year, but the Yorkshire Evening Post understands the terms include a deadline for making a decision over future seasons. Arthur said: “I am really pleased to be staying here at the Rhinos. My family and I have been made to feel so welcome since the first day I walked in the door at AMT Headingley and I am excited about what this group of players can achieve.

“I would like to thank [chairman] Paul Caddick and [sporting director] Ian Blease, in particular, for the support and patience they have shown to me. I always said from the outset that I only wanted to be here if I felt I could help make the team better and have an impact on this group of players.

“I am so proud of how they have grown as a group; no one can ever doubt their determination and commitment to the club and each other and I think that is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. I am looking forward to building on those foundations with our coaching team in the months ahead.

“Finally, I would like to thank my family for their support. Having come over here originally for two and half months, Leeds has certainly made us feel at home. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season and this group of players fulfilling their potential.”

In his response, Blease said: “We are delighted Brad will be staying at the Rhinos next season and hopefully for more years to come. I know it was a big decision for him and his family. Brad is a man of his word and he did not want to commit to us if there was any doubt he needed to return home to Australia.

“As a club, we are also grateful to Brad’s family for the support they have given him. Often in professional sport there is a danger we can forget that the decisions players and coaches make have a big impact on those closest to them.”

Rhinos won five of Arthur’s 10 games at the helm last year and finished eighth in the table, two places outside the play-offs. They have a record of 15 victories and eight losses from all competitions this season and are fifth on the ladder with six rounds remaining, just one point behind third-placed Leigh Leopards.

Blease added: “Brad has had a big impact on our entire club, as I hoped he would when he arrived last year for that first 10-week spell. He has developed our young players and set standards for our all squad.

“While we have got so much still to look forward to this season, I am looking forward to seeing how Brad and his backroom team take the squad to the next level with another pre-season under their belt this winter, having seen what has happened already in the last year.”