5 possible NRL signings Brad Arthur could lure to Leeds Rhinos: Parramatta Eels icons, Samoan star.
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.
Arthur actually dropped his star winger earlier this year and it was an open secret that he was available despite having three years left to run on his deal.
To say things have been up and down would be an understatement: the ups have often been Sivo looking that way as his propensity to jam off his wing saw halfbacks float passes over his head, the downs too many times have been him staring at his feet like a naughty schoolboy having shot the line and smashed an opponent late, high or both.
His yardage, too, is nowhere near as good as you might expect for a guy of his side: under 100m per game this year, and around 8m per run.
On his best day, Sivo is an exceptional finisher, and Super League fans would love to have a player like him in the competition. On the slightly more boring levels, defensive decisions and backfield work, it’s less rosy.
That, of course, is why Parra would let him go. It’s why he might not get a gig elsewhere in the NRL. And at Leeds, Sivo would offer star power and an awful lot of tries. Don’t count it out.
