New Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur immediately makes ‘unfinished business’ claim

“The early signs were very good. There was acceptance of small adjustments I made. I was encouraged by the first meeting. I walked in and this guy – Brodie (Croft) – had a book to take notes in. I encouraged them, if I sit there for 40 minutes, they won’t retain everything. It’s not so much what I say, it’s what they hear and take away, because everyone will take away something different.

“But they need to write it down. I showed up yesterday and everyone had a book. It’s all good on the first day, but we have to do it on the second, third and fourth week. And that’s where the level of professionalism will be. Then it becomes consistent and routine and then the performances become consistent.”

Arthur admits he was going “crazy” sitting at home after being sacked by Parramatta in May. He had been in charge for 11 years but believes a change in environment will benefit him and Leeds. Arthur admitted: “It’s been good for Parramatta – and even better for me.

“There are some things you don’t really know, or you may have had in your head, but you don’t learn the full price of them until you’re laid off. There are things I’ve learned now that I’ve been laid off. There are adjustments that needed to be made. And I’m excited about the challenge here.”

He admitted he has “unfinished business” in the NRL and did not say whether he intended to remain with the Rhinos in 2025.

Arthur added: “I don’t want to get dragged into the question of whether I’ll stay or not because I don’t know. What I do know is that I’ve left my family at home, which shows I’m committed to helping the club now and I want to train. This is a unique challenge here as I’ve only been here for ten weeks.”