00:00So finally, we know Brad Arthur is staying on as Leeds Rhinos coach in 2026.
00:06I think everybody associated with the club will be delighted with that particular piece of news.
00:11He's had a massive impact on the Rhinos since he took charge in July last year,
00:17initially on a 10-game deal that was quickly extended until the end of this season, 2025,
00:22and now he's agreed to stay on for another campaign, and his current deal runs until the end of 2026.
00:31It's a rolling deal, we're told, which includes clauses allowing him and the club to extend if they both agree.
00:41That obviously keeps his options open, so if he gets the offer of an NRL job over in Australia,
00:47or if family reasons come up, he can return over there.
00:52But I think Leeds will be quietly confident of keeping him for a couple more years.
00:57It's a positive move for the Rhinos.
01:00It's continuity for them after a fairly rough few years with a number of different coaches,
01:09none of whom have really settled into the job and done as well as the club would have hoped.
01:13But Brad Arthur has changed the culture at Leeds.
01:17He's also developing some good young coaches underneath him.
01:23I think Jamie Langley is somebody that's regarded by a lot of people as a future coach,
01:28possibly future head coach, he's one of the assistants now, possibly at Leeds.
01:32And this deal will give him another 12 months to learn his trade under Brad Arthur.
01:37He's done a terrific job on Leeds' defence this season.
01:40The players are all delighted with it, the club officials are delighted with it.
01:45And judging by the reception they gave him at Leeds last week when the fans were wanting 10 more years,
01:51I think the supporters will be pretty pleased as well.
01:56The big question is, can Leeds win a trophy during Brad Arthur's time at the club?
02:00I think it's possible. They certainly look more like contenders now than they have done for a little while.
02:07Still need some work to be done.
02:10They're defending well, they're a well organised team now.
02:13A few too many mistakes, that will be something that Brad Arthur wants to reduce.
02:17Now the club know the situation coaching-wise for 2026, they can look at recruitment and retention for next season.
02:26I know there's a couple of deals in the pipeline for players who are, as it stands, are out of contract at the end of 2026.
02:33They're close to agreeing something from beyond that, and I would think there won't be a massive number of new signings,
02:41but there could well be one or two coming in just to strengthen the squad a little bit
02:46and to replace a couple of players who are leaving.
02:50We know that Sandalson and Morgan Gannon are both going.
02:54Matt Frawley, it seems like, will be leaving the club.
02:57And probably the young Australian, Ethan Clarkwood, as well, who's had a difficult time with injuries
03:04and hasn't really had a chance to show what he can do yet.
03:08He's only played one senior game.
03:11It's likely that he won't be staying at the club, although I don't think that's actually firmly been decided yet.
03:17So there will be some changes in the playing staff, but the big thing now is the continuity of the coach.
03:24Brad Arthur's going to get another pre-season with his players.
03:27That will be good for young players, people like Presley Cassell, who's just broken into the first team
03:32and in three games already made a solid impression.
03:35There are some other young kids who will be hoping to get an opportunity over the next season or two.
03:41And that will be a tough call for Brad Arthur to decide what his best 13 is for 2026.
03:49Most of it's fairly settled, but there will be some changes and there are some young players knocking on the door.
03:55So he's got some thinking to do there.
03:56But the big thing is he's going to be staying at Leeds for another year.
04:00And I think everybody's delighted with that.
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