Highlights from the Leeds Rhinos event including interim coach, recruitment..

Leeds Rhinos duo Gary Hetherington and Ian Blease held a press conference to address Rohan Smith’s exit on Thursday morning with plenty of topics on the agenda.

Smith’s departure earlier in the week was inevitably a big talking point – as were early-stage hints about possible contenders for the role. You can read more about Blease’s comments about Brad Arthur and Paul Rowley below.

But there were plenty of other issues to bring up. Here are the morning highlights.

Possible interim coach?

While Leeds are expected to go out and name a direct replacement for Smith on a long-term deal, Blease suggested nothing is off the table when it comes to the direction Leeds will take.

This could include a possible interim manager for the remainder of this season, should the Rhinos’ preferred candidate be unable to fully take over the role at Headingley by the start of 2025.

“I’m open to seeing what the market brings,” Blease said. “There are no preconceived ideas. We need to go up the table and if that means we have to bring in a coach quickly in the meantime, I might look at it. But all I think is that we’re open right now.”

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Time period for an appointment

Rhinos insist they are relaxed about naming Smith’s permanent replacement, with Chev Walker and Scott Grix set to take the squad for at least Friday night’s game against Leigh Leopards.

“I have no doubt there will be quite a lot of interest in the job. It’s a job that a lot of people aspire to,” said Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington. “There is no time frame in which it will have to be completed.”

Blease admitted he has not ruled out heading to Australia to interview potential candidates as well, which could further prolong the process.

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Recruitment situation

Leeds acted despite Smith’s departure this week in the transfer market. They tried and failed with a move for Jake Connor from Huddersfield but managed to bring in Sam Eseh on a four-week loan from Wigan.

Blease acknowledged there is also room for further maneuvering in the market for the Rhinos in the coming days and weeks as well.

“There’s little room for that,” he said. “I brought Sam in, but that was on the back of a critical Monday morning. We’ll look at it, but again it’s been so rushed with everything, if we see someone and we identify them as a target, we’ll have a council-wide discussion about it.”

The Last Rhyse Martin

Towards the end of the press conference was a question that drew a wry smile from Blease: when he was asked if there was an update on Rhyse Martin’s future.

Martin is the subject of interest from the likes of Leigh and Warrington, as well as the Rhinos, who are keen to tie him down to a new deal.

But when Blease was asked, he simply said, “There is no update.”

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