Brad Arthur’s telling family admission amid links to shock NRL return

Sacked Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur has made a major family admission amid links to a shock return to the NRL.

Former Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur is reportedly “holding off” on signing an extension with his English Super League side, the Leeds Rhinos, as he believes an NRL coaching return may be on the cards.

Arthur has reportedly been offered a contract extension to remain in the Super League, with his current deal up at the end of the 2025 season.

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But the 50-year-old told Code Sports, he is homesick and is itching for a return to Australia to be close to sons Jake and Matt who are signed with the Sea Eagles and Knights respectively.

“It’s hard to not be there with the boys … they want me to stay but I’m holding them off a bit,” Arthur said.

“I’m enjoying it, I really am. But I want to coach in the NRL again and I’d like to come home.”

Arthur was sacked by the Eels in May last year after Parramatta were thumped following a 48-16 loss to the Storm at Magic Round.

His Rhinos side are currently sitting seventh, with three wins from their six games, and he believes his experience abroad will serve him well when he returns to the NRL.

“I’ve done things a bit differently. I’ve learnt to focus on what the priorities are. Working with different personalities. Keeping things simple. It’s been good for me,” he continued.

Brad Arthur revealed he intends to return to Australia to reunite with his family.

Brad Arthur was sacked as Eels coach last year. Picture: NRL Imagery

It is no surprise that Arthur wants to return to Australia as he said his aim is to make it back to the NRL from the time he was sacked.

“I’ve been honest about it all the way through, I want to be a career coach in the NRL and still feel like I’ve got some unfinished business there,” he said last year after joining Leeds.

“But also, I’ve always had the desire at some stage to coach in the Super League – whether it was at the end of my career or now. I don’t want to be drawn into whether I’m staying or I’m not: because I don’t know.

“I’ve left my family at home so that shows I’m committed to helping the club right now. If I can do as much as I can now to help the club advance through this year and beyond whether it’s with or without me, then great.”

Arthur may be itching to make an NRL return, however, there has to be an opening for that to be a reality.

The Knights and Roosters are two potential destinations for Arthur if either side struggles for wins in 2025, but realistically neither coach seems likely to lose their jobs in the immediate future.

So if Arthur is to return it may need to be as an assistant, or he may opt to bide his time and target one of the NRL expansion teams.

Only time will tell.

Originally published as Brad Arthur’s telling family admission amid links to shock NRL return