Brad Arthur has admitted that his son Jake’s upcoming move to Hull FC played a role in his decision to remain at Leeds Rhinos beyond this season.
The Rhinos head coach, whose side head to the MKM Stadium on Saturday after thrashing league leaders Hull KR 28-6, confirmed that Jake’s commitment to a two-year deal with Hull FC from 2026 was a “factor” in his own contract talks.
Arthur on Jake’s Super League switch
“Yes, it’s good and it certainly helped with my decision,” Arthur told the club’s media. “We’ve known for a while now that Jake had made that decision to commit to Hull FC, so he’s looking forward to it, and it will be nice to have him around.
“He’s still not going to be living very close to us, but he will be a lot closer than on the other side of the world.”
The 22-year-old half-back will partner Aidan Sezer for Hull next season, having already gained experience with Parramatta Eels, Manly Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights.
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Arthur stressed, however, that he had not steered his son towards the Black and Whites. “I haven’t had much involvement at all – he’s his own man and needs to make his own decisions. I think his mother helped him out a bit more. He had questions about England, where to live, flights and things like that.
“I’ve pretty much stayed out of it, and I’m just glad he’s comfortable in making a decision that’s best for him. Do I think Super League will bring the best out of Jake? Yes, I think so, and I hope so, but that’s up to him.”
With Leeds pushing for a top-two finish, Arthur said their focus remained sharp. “We’re doing a lot of good things at the moment, and we want to continue to do that. But Hull FC play a really good style of footie; they’re tough, they fight to the death and compete very hard.”