By STEVE MASCORD
BRAD Arthur has set a deadline of June 29 to inform Leeds Rhinos about his future at the club, as speculation intensifies about a return to the NRL.
Arthur has been linked to the vacant job at Manly Sea Eagles for 2027 after the sacking of Anthony Seibold.
Arthur is only contracted to Leeds until the end of this year, and has made no secret of his desire to return to coach in Australia. The 51-year-old applied unsuccessfully for the Perth Bears job, and was a candidate to coach the PNG Chiefs, who have utlimately appointed Willie Peters.
A former assistant coach at the Sea Eagles, Arthur has been mentioned in the Australian media as a leading contender for the Manly position.
Asked yesterday after Leeds defeated Warrington, Arthur declined to confirm or deny if he was interested in the role at Brookvale Oval.
“I reckon I’ve been pretty honest and fair all the way through,” he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“I don’t think it’s fair on the club if we keep having these conversations. Like I’m committed to the club, what will be will be. I’ve got till June 30, June 29 I’ll tell everybody what I’m doing.
“I’m not trying to drag it out, but it is hard for me being away from Australia. But I feel like I’ve come here and honoured everything that I said I was going to do and I’m trying to make the club a better club and the players are buying in.
“And what happens back in Australia, I’ve got no control over. People can say I’m in for, doing this or doing that, but I’m committed to this team right now and I’ve got until June 30 to make a decision about whether I stay or not.
“I’m not trying to be rude, I’m trying to be appreciative of where I’m at.
“But I don’t think it’s fair that I need to continue to justify my position for the club.”
Keiran Foran, who Arthur coached at Parramatta, has been made interim coach at Manly for the rest of 2026.
