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.

Got to be Danny Mags as BA's assistant surely?

Yep that would be a good move imo

I personally wouldn`t want Danny McGuire yet another old boy coming back.
And he appears to have fallen out with Head coaches before.
He didn`t last long at HKR for instance.
Richard Marshall (again) but doubt he leaves Wire.
If we have to look at ex players Danny Ward or even Ryan Hall if he`s interested.

Just no former players full stop unless they have a track record somewhere else first. What evidence is there that McGuire would be a good assistant and potential future coach? He got kicked out at KR who have only got better since he left. Is he having an impact at Cas? Maybe, but again, what evidence is there that he's driving improvement there?

Danny Ward has actually done some first team coaching and didn't seem to do too bad a job with the Broncos for a while. But what has he done in the last few years? Ryan Hall has zero experience as far as I'm aware.

Knowing what went on during the Golden Generation is fast becoming as relevant as having played with Eric Harris. If anything its looking more of a negative than a positive to me. Our coaches during the Golden Generation were from outside the club, with Brian McDermott only having a short spell as assistant before taking over, but coached London before returning to coach at Leeds. Tony Smith and Bluey had zero links to the club.

Its not the be all and end all, but I hope - and seriously doubt - Blease or Arthur would care very much where someone played or coached before bringing them in. What matters is how they have performed.

Danny Ward is assistant coach at Hull KR

Has anyone got the inside track on why Danny Mags left HKR? It was very odd timing in the middle of the play-offs wasn't it?

I think there's space to be objective about former players. Just look at what Lee Briers has done as an assistant when given the opportunity at big clubs. Danny doesn't quite have that calibre yet, but could he reach those heights working under the right mentor?

If we want to build another golden generation we have to cut the ties to the last one. Any future golden generation needs the freedom to have its own identity, not to be moulded in the shape of the last one as the game has changed.

It’s great that we have all these wonderful former players, but that’s what they are unless they have developed into fine coaches or administrators elsewhere. Nostalgia can be fantastic fun, but let’s recognise it for what it is.

We need the best person/people for the jobs, if that’s an ex ‘golden generation ’ player then so be it. I wouldn’t be ruling people out just because of their past playing career.