Four potential candidates to become head coach of Leeds Rhinos – Total Rugby League

ROHAN SMITH is no longer head coach of Leeds Rhinos, it was confirmed this afternoon.

That means new sporting director Ian Blease will be tasked with finding the new head coach to lead Leeds into the Super League play-offs.

But which three potential suitors could Leeds be looking at?

Paul Rowley

It seems almost inevitable that Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley will come up in the conversation to follow his former boss to Headingley. Blease and Rowley have enjoyed a great relationship at the Salford Community Stadium and would be the obvious choice to take over from Rohan Smith. Of course, Rowley has been instrumental to the Red Devils’ success on the pitch, leading the club to a Super League semi-final play-off against the odds and doing so on a shoestring budget. The former midfielder is well known for his leadership skills and ability to get the best out of his playing squad – something the Rhinos desperately need.

Brad Arthur

League Express revealed earlier this week that former Parramatta Eels head coach Brad Arthur has thrown his hat into the ring to become the new Leeds boss. After a decade in charge of the Eels, Arthur was unceremoniously dumped earlier this season with his best player, Mitchell Moses, on the sidelines with injury. During Arthur’s time in charge of Parramatta, the 50-year-old had amassed a 52 win percentage, leading the Eels to 135 wins from 258 and 123 losses without a draw. A long-term plan under Arthur would certainly benefit Leeds.

Steve McNamara

One may be out of left field, but Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara has garnered considerable fanfare in recent years for the way he has transformed the French club from Million Pound Game strugglers to silverware contenders. Along the way, McNamara helped the Dragons lift the Challenge Cup for the first time while leading the club to two Super League finals. With the Catalans currently reeling and sliding towards the outside of the play-offs, could the time be right for McNamara to move on to a new challenge?

Jason Demetriou

It would also not be a surprise to see Leeds turn to Jason Demetriou, who has been axed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the start of the 2024 NRL season. The Australian has a strong affinity with Great Britain having played for Wakefield Trinity and Keighley Cougars for over a decade. In his first season in charge of the Rabbitohs, Demetriou guided the club to a fifth consecutive preliminary final, but missed out on the 2023 play-offs and endured a difficult start to the 2024 campaign. The 48-year-old was part, also on the coaching staff of the North Queensland Cowboys during their 2015 Grand Final winning season.

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