Leeds Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease has insisted that the club is yet to appoint their next head coach after ex-Parramatta mentor Brad Arthur was linked to the role on a short-term contract.
Over the weekend it was reported that Arthur would take the reins from interim coach Chev Walker for the remainder of the Super League season.
However, after the Rhinos defeated the London Broncos 17-16 on Sunday morning (AEST), Blease fronted the media to address the speculation around their vacant coaching position.
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Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur. Getty
Speaking alongside Walker during the team’s post-match press conference, Blease ironed out the club’s timeline for their search.
“The purpose why I’m here is for a bit of clarity on that,” he 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.
“Obviously it’s a really important decision for us as a club and we want to make sure we get that right, so there’s still things we need to discuss and do.
“We’ve got [former star] Rob’s [Burrow] funeral tomorrow obviously, so nothing will be announced by the club until next week.”
Asked specifically if the club are in advanced talks with Arthur, Blease denied that anything had been finalised.
Leeds Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease and interim coach Chev Walker. Leeds Rhinos via YouTube
“He and a number of candidates have been discussed and interviewed last week by me, so I’ll be making those choices next week,” he said.
Also probed if the role would stand only until the end of the season, Blease was coy.
“That’s an option, one of our options,” he said
The Rhinos are on the hunt for a new coach after the club parted company with head coach Rohan Smith by mutual consent in June.
Assistant coaches Walker and Scott Grix have led the team since Smith’s exit.
Arthur, 50, coached the Eels for a decade before being sacked by the club in May.
Last month, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Arthur met with a representative from Perth’s expansion bid team.
With Perth hoping to be awarded the league’s 18th licence in the coming years, it appears Arthur could be poised to be the side’s inaugural coach should its offer be successful.