Rugby League: Leeds Rhinos Remain Tight-Lipped on Coaching Situation

Leeds Rhinos’ sporting director Ian Blease has insisted that the club has yet to finalize their next head coach, despite reports suggesting that former Parramatta Eels boss Brad Arthur is set to take over the role on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Blease addressed the media following the Rhinos’ narrow 17-16 golden point victory over the London Broncos on Saturday. He emphasized that the club is still in the process of evaluating and discussing their options for the head coaching position, with the second stage of the recruitment process now underway.

“The purpose why I’m here is for a bit of clarity on that,” Blease said. “I’ve had three phases in my mind: phase one was meeting, interviewing and speaking to the candidates that had applied which went pretty well over the last week or so. Stage two is now firming up some options that we can look at, but there’s nothing that has officially been done yet so that will carry on into next week now.”

Blease acknowledged that the decision is a crucial one for the club and that they are committed to ensuring they get it right. He also revealed that the club’s focus this week will be on the funeral of club legend Rob Burrow, with no announcement expected until next week.

When asked specifically about the reports linking Arthur to the role, Blease stated that the former Eels coach is one of the candidates that has been discussed and interviewed, but he refrained from confirming any advanced talks or a potential deal until the end of the season.

The Rhinos’ recent victory over the Broncos, secured by a match-winning drop goal from Brodie Croft, provided a much-needed boost for the club as they navigate the coaching change. Fans will now eagerly await the club’s announcement on their next head coach in the coming week.

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