Off-contract Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has been named among the front-runners for a vacant NRL job after an early-season firing.
Super League saw their first coaching casualty after round five when Luke Robinson was sacked by Huddersfield Giants but the NRL saw an even earlier axing, with Manly Sea Eagles getting rid of Anthony Seibold.
Seibold was understood to have been under pressure with Hull KR boss Willie Peters recently linked to the job by James Graham, however, it’s now being reported that Peters will take on the role as PNG Chiefs head coach instead.
Manly’s 0-3 start to the season resulted in Seibold’s dismissal and the talk has already turned to who will replace him, with Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur named among the likely candidates.
Arthur only signed a new deal last year, however, it was only a one-year deal and having seemingly missed out on the PNG role, it’s been suggested that he could be near the top of Manly’s wish list.
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Leeds Rhinos boss ‘in the mix’ for Manly job
The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read was the man to name Arthur as a candidate when speaking on Fox League, with the Leeds Rhinos boss among several to be named.
“Brad Arthur is a guy who just missed out on the PNG job. He’ll be in the thick of it,” claimed Read.
Others to be mentioned included Matt Ballin and Michael Ennis, with Read explaining: “Ballin is another guy in contention and as I understand, has the support of the old boys at the club.
“Mick Ennis, a former assistant at Manly, is someone who has made no secret of his aspirations to be a head coach.
“They’re the three guys right now who I would say are in the mix for the job.”
Arthur has made no secret of his desire to return to the NRL at some point but it’s unclear if he would be willing to make a mid-season switch. He will lead Leeds Rhinos into Super League’s 30th anniversary game on Sunday when Warrington Wolves visit Headingley.
