LEEDS RHINOS coach Brad Arthur says all the credit for Jake Connor’s transformation should go to the man himself.
Arthur is arguably the biggest influence on Connor’s career so far having switched him from fullback to halfback and helped him deliver career-best form and win the Steve Prescott Man of Steel in his debut campaign at Headingley last term.
That has carried on into 2026 and new England coach Brian McDermott has already said he’ll be part of his World Cup plans after being overlooked on the international stage for seven years.
Arthur added: “I’m so proud of him. His team-mates are proud of him and his family should be proud of him too. He’s a very good person and an extremely good father.
“I can only give him some guidance, talk to him about what he can do in those pressure situations and what his team needs from him, and let him understand the responsibility he wants to take on of being in control of this team and the consequences that come with it, good and bad.
“Ultimately it’s up to him. He’s got to make those choices and he’s done a great job, he’s really thrived in it. It’s tough to go from the role he had previously to go into a seven.
“Guys take years and years to get on top of that and he’s taken months.”
Arthur also believes the 31-year-old maverick’s improved authority means he can now shake himself out of indifferent displays, citing his contribution to the recent comeback win over St Helens after a verbal battle with opponent Kyle Feldt.
The Aussie said: “He just focused on his performance and on the team and when he did that, his composure won us the game.”