Can the Eels still make the 2024 NRL Finals?
Brad Arthur finally has his feet under the Headingley desk at Leeds Rhinos, back in the blue and yellow tracksuit he sported so well at Parramatta.
Though his contract is to the end of the season and, theoretically at least, no longer, Director of Rugby Ian Blease has suggested that the ten-year veteran NRL coach could be involved in recruitment at the Rhinos.
In his old gig, he was able to craft a team in his own image after a decade of making the big calls and ended up with a side that, though on the old side in the end, was able to properly embody his style of play.
Whether that style was fit for purpose in 2024 is another debate, but it was hard to argue that Arthur wasn’t successful in getting the guys that he wanted to play it. Big props, offloading backrowers and smart, running halves: he had the lot.
Whether he’ll be able to get them all given the short timeframe and tight salary cap at Leeds is another thing, but here’s a few ideas he might have jotted down on the long flight over from Sydney.
The massive Fijian winger is the most obvious choice if BA wants to make a splash in his new job.
Though Sivo has been one of the most loved figures at Parramatta over the last six years – 98 tries in 111 games will do that – there’s been an acceptance by figures around the club that he is not the force he was and it might be best for all parties if the 30-year-old found somewhere else to play out the twilight of his career.
