Brad Arthur reveals desire for an NRL return

Brad Arthur has conceded he has “unfinished business” in the NRL but is committed to restoring the Leeds Rhinos to their winning ways.

Arthur, the longest ever serving coach of the Parramatta Eels, left the club in 2024 after 11 seasons at the helm, taking over the Leeds Rhinos for what was initially a 10-week contract to complete the 2024 English Super League season.

However, Arthur agreed to stay on for the 2025 season after good results, ultimately re-signing for the 2026 season and beyond, with the contract including rolling clauses allowing Arthur to leave when he desires.

Arthur took the Eels to the 2022 Grand Final, and finished fourth and third in his two seasons in charge of the Rhinos, but is yet to win a competition: a major driving force for the veteran coach.

As the Leeds Rhinos prepare for a match against Hull KR as a part of the NRL’s Vegas season opener, Arthur opened up about his sudden move, revealing he has a desire to return to coach in Australia, but is determined to “deliver on some silverware” in England.

“A lot of things have changed for me,” Arthur told SEN 1170 Mornings.

“When I first got here, I'd have been out of work for a couple of weeks and it was driving me crazy, I just needed to get back into it, so I've seen it as 10-week opportunity for me to keep myself relevant with the coaching.

“I had no real intentions of staying and then got involved with such a great club and really good people that wanted to do better and it’s grown on me.

“My situation's a little bit different now, where maybe 12 months ago I was desperate to get back into the NRL.

“I still have that desire and I still feel like I've got a little bit of unfinished business there, but I also feel when we get that opportunity, whenever that may be, I feel like I'm better suited for it.

“It's just taught me a few different things along the way of how I can approach it and get more out of myself as a coach in the NRL.

“I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I've had over here. I've really enjoyed it and at some stage, something might come my way… but right now my commitment is with this team and the guys that have backed me.

“They've given me a leg up, so I need to make sure I'm committed to them.

“At whatever stage I left the club, I wanted to make sure the club is in a better place and I've had a lot of good help around me.

“It's not solely on me; you need people to buy into what your vision is and the standard expectations you're trying to set.

“There's a lot of people pushing in the right direction and I'd love to be able to look everyone in the eye and know that I help them deliver on some silverware because that's what the club's desperate to do, to get back to that standard.

“I've still got plenty of coaching left in me… right now this is a big priority for me and if I'm here for the next three-to-five years, that's what it is.

“My family's happy. Jake's (Arthur) over here. I do miss my mean boy, Matt (Arthur) back at Newcastle, but he's only young and he's still learning to forge his career.”

Jake Arthur has made the move to Hull FC over the off-season from Newcastle, while Matt Arthur is contracted to the Newcastle Knights until the end of the 2027 season.

The PNG Chiefs loom as an option for the new Papua New Guinea Chiefs franchise, along with Jason Demetriou, Adrian Lam, and Hull KR coach Willie Peters.

The Leeds Rhinos are currently third on the Super League ladder, having won one and lost one in the opening two rounds of the season.