Is Arthur guaranteed a job in the NRL in 2026? Most of the Aussie coaches that go back to head coach role win the competition here. Maybe a year by year contract is the best we could get, ideally with an assistant who could take over that all parties would be happy with.

I believe family as much as anything will decide if he even wants to stay for the 2025 season.
He's only been here for several weeks and in an interview the other day said was already missing them.
He said his wife, arriving Saturday, and later his son for a few weeks , if she does not take to the UK then that could be the deciding factor. Lets hope it does not pee it down whilst she is here.
Then again, if there are no offers in the NRL for next season he may have to stay with us for financial reasons.

He isn't guaranteed a head coach job for 26, but he does appear to have the inside track for the upcoming Perth roIe. Think he'll do a year for us (I suspect he's already 90% decided on that) and then go back. Graeme Murray did two years and is perhaps the most fondly remembered coach during my time supporting the club. Forget about winning trophies, if he can get the club back in the top 4 he has an excellent chance of being celebrated in the same way. He seems like a smart guy, so he's probably already worked that out. Now, if only he can persuade the missus..

He may have taken a walk through Roundhay Park today with the sun shining gloriously off his bald head. He may have felt a £20 note gently flutter onto his foot as he headed towards the Lakeside Cafe, where he had the best caffe latte of his life. As he sat watching the swans glide majestically across Waterloo Lake he may have thought, “Do you know what, this ain’t such a bad place”. Alternatively, he may have got lost and his car may have broken down in the middle of Harehills.

Having now listened to the post match interview and the behind the scenes stuff on the club website, I’m completely convinced that the way BA goes about things is exactly what this club needs. He’s stone cold honest with the staff and players, he’s right in their corner as leader of the group, and he knows exactly how the game should be played and isn’t afraid of telling people.

I can’t wait for him to be announced as the HC for 2025. Back him Blaster, he’s your man.

Agreed. Im not hung up on him having to commit to a 3/4 year deal like some.
Get him in. get him backed with whatever he wants and let him at the very least set the club up for the next coach.

Signing Arthur could be the best signing Leeds have made since Murray.

Basically it’s very very rare that a coach of his quality is available to a SL club, we need to do whatever we can to keep him even if it’s for a short while.

Definitely has echos of Graham Murray does this appointment.

He's likely to sign a 2 year deal, apparently

I love listening to Arthur talk. Barely a word is wasted. Incisive, clear, direct, critical without being derogatory. I have been hugely impressed with the intelligence & humility of Matty Peet's comments, especially after match, more so than any British coach at the moment, but he doesn't appear to have the depth of player & team analysis that Arthur does.

The NRL is a different planet to SL. Arthur is good but not outstanding coach - he is no Craig Bellamy or Cleary yet he is light years ahead of all the coaches in SL. His understanding of what is required to develop a cohesive team that goes on a field and understands what is needed shines through.

Half of this Leeds squad wouldn't survive a pre-season under Arthur - hopefully he stays and brings in his own backroom people especially a strength and conditioning coach and two serious assistants.

Aussie press reporting it as done deal 2 years with a return to Perth for 2027 https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... ad3ac597d6

Aussie press reporting it as done deal 2 years with a return to Perth for 2027 https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... ad3ac597d6

That would be a major result for Leeds.

With a return NRL clause, but whatever - even if he only stays next year I think he can make a big difference.

It certainly would be.Hes improved the team in the short time he's been here.Add some beef upfront and a preseason the future looks rosy.

One year would be good, two would be great.

I don't want to get carried away, too many false dawns. Hopefully this works out thos time

Quote ="rollin thunder"Aussie press reporting it as done deal 2 years with a return to Perth for 2027 https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... ad3ac597d6[/ If that is the case, excellent news. Next step get rid of the useless assistant coaches, then weed out of the playing squad the dross that we seem to have acquired. Let’s get back to being a serious club once again, instead of an experiment in reinventing the rugby league wheel.

Quote ="rollin thunder"Aussie press reporting it as done deal 2 years with a return to Perth for 2027 https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... ad3ac597d6[/ If that is the case, excellent news. Next step get rid of the useless assistant coaches, then weed out of the playing squad the dross that we seem to have acquired. Let’s get back to being a serious club once again, instead of an experiment in reinventing the rugby league wheel.

so many project players too

I'd like to see Arthur bring in his own back room team, but we should definitely have at least a couple of coaches on his team who will remain after he goes, in order to maintain standards. I hope that's not Chev and Grix though

As I understand it, you can basically only have a single Australian/oversees coach on staff, other assistants and backroom would have to be 'domestic'. So who from SL would be choose to bring in? Arthur is unlikely to know this market for staff, so I would expect Blease to lead on this with a possible succession plan in mind for 2027 (if Arthur stays for 2 years).

I don't know that Walker and Grix are bad assistants, the head coach is the leader and person who gives strategic direction, the assistants should improve under Arthurs direction as much as the players do.

For those saying Athur is already the best coach in SL, let's just see how he gets on. Loads of reason for optimism, but also loads of rugby to be played, including a really tough fixture for magic. This group of players really aren't known for back-to-back performances.

Interesting posting, I wasn’t aware of the single Australian rule. This presumably is the opportunity for Blease to have some input. After all that’s why he was brought into the club. Who knows maybe BA is happy with the back room staff. If not it’s definitely an interesting scenario. Potentially should put various ex players going into coaching on red alert. You are right about the magic game, huge test for the team to give a repeat performance to match the Wigan game. BA remarked after the Wigan game that you need to replicate a high quality performance every week.

Who will be the new Damian McGrath? Since we're suddenly obsessed with the Graham Murray comparisons...

Ian Watson

If Roberts is leaving along with Fusi and Donaldson that's our biggest block of poor value players leaving.

I know every club has a Donaldson,but with Goudemand we don't need him too.