BRAD Arthur believes Leeds Rhinos’ players will be able to succeed whether he is still head coach in 2026 or not.
The 50-year-old’s future beyond the current Betfred Super League season has been subject of much speculation and he has yet to decide if he wants to extend his contract which expires at the end of the year.
The Rhinos sit fifth in the Super League table after seven games following Thursday’s 28-0 win away to Salford Red Devils and Arthur feels the way the squad has embraced his messaging means it does not matter if he remains in charge in 2026.
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“I feel like the club is heading in the right direction,” Arthur told Sky Sports.
“The players understand the level of training and physicality we need to play at.
“I might be here or might not be here, but they don’t need me.
“They can run it themselves now, they know what the standards and expectations are to win games of footy – we’ve just got to win more regularly.”
Arthur admitted he is torn between wanting to continue the work he has started at the Rhinos since succeeding Rohan Smith midway through the 2024 season and being closer to his family back home in Australia.
Although his wife and daughter are with him in the UK, the former Parramatta Eels boss has his two sons making their way as players in the early stages of their NRL careers.
Jake, 23, is currently in his third season at Manly Sea Eagles, while Matt, 20, is set to make his Newcastle Knights debut against Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Neither have expressed a desire for their father to return home, but Arthur is eager to support them and believes his time at Leeds has helped him find a better balance between work and family.
“I think I’m going to be a better-equipped coach if I get an opportunity back at home because I’ve always put work over family,” Arthur said.
“I’ve learnt I can have both and I can put family first, and still get my work done.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it here, I love working with this group of players and the club has been fantastic.
“Job satisfaction is through the roof and I wish my family was around, me but it’s just not the case.”
Arthur accepts there will come a point where Leeds chairman Paul Caddick and rugby director Ian Blease will need to give him a deadline to make a decision on his plans for 2026.
He is happy for them to set a deadline, but is keen to return to the Rhinos one day if he does not extend his stay beyond this year.
“I’d love to come back here in 10 years’ time and coach, but I want to make sure people want me to come back here,” Arthur said.
“So, I do the right thing and at some stage the club is going to want an answer and I’ll have to give one.
“But if it was right now, I can’t commit to that because once I commit to something I can’t walk away.”
