Since Brad Arthur made it clear of his desires to return to the NRL, his name has been linked with a number of jobs. However, this week he has been labelled as a “perfect” replacement for the Newcastle Knights coaching job, should current boss Adam O’Brien leave the club.
Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby, Ian Blease, has said that talks for Arthur to stay at the club are ongoing, and a decision will be made on his Rhinos future by the end of the month.
Former Wigan Warriors and NRL half-back Blake Green, who is currently O’Brien’s assistant at the Knights, is the new favourite to step into the role for next season, but Arthur’s name has been linked from the start, and he continues to be a candidate.
Could Leeds Rhinos’ boss be ‘perfect’ for Newcastle Knights?
Speaking on Fox Sports’ NRL 360, journalist and pundit, Paul Crawley, said that Blake Green didn’t have enough experience, and the Knights need something completely fresh if they were to rebuild and challenge for the top four.
“He hasn’t got the experience to walk in there and take control,” he said. “He has been at the club, and I understand he is the attack coach at the moment.”
He questioned: “What I don’t understand is if he is the assistant coach and you are going to step up and be the next coach, aren’t your ideas already out there?”
Crawley added how Arthur would be the ideal man to take over from O’Brien next year.
“It’s not about who I want it is about who is best suited and if I was looking at where the Knights are at the moment, I would think an experienced coach would probably be a better fit for them to potentially tell the other guys to rack off and take charge,” Crawley said.
“A guy like Brad Arthur would be perfect.”
There are questions, however, on whether Arthur would even accept the job, given his close relationship with O’Brien.
The 51-year-old’s two sons, Jake and Matt, are now both with the Knights’, and whilst the main reason for Arthur going back home is to see his sons develop and grow as NRL players, a move that sees him coach his two sons could have both positive and negative effects.
