LEEDS RHINOS head coach Brad Arthur believes Ash Handley is “the best centre” in Super League.
Arthur made the choice to swap Handley from the wing to the centre ahead of the 2025 campaign, his first full season in charge, and it’s been an inspired decision.
Handley’s performances this season have caught the eye of new England boss Brian McDermott, who included the 30-year-old in his latest performance squad.
Meanwhile, Maika Sivo’s try-scoring exploits – 30 in 17 matches, including at least one in each of his last ten – may not have been as fruitful had the powerful Fijian not had Handley on his inside.
And speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Catalans Dragons, Arthur expressed how impressed he had been with his captain.
“I can be biased and say this – and I’m not being disrespectful to the others because there are some playing really well – he’s the best centre in the competition,” Arthur said.
“He can be a centre or he can be a winger, and that’s going to be a difference of an opinion based on coach to coach.
“But his leadership has really grown and gone from strength to strength and that’s given him confidence in his performances.
“That’s given him confidence to be a better leader too. He holds the boys to high standards and there’s a high level of respect there. When he talks, they listen; he doesn’t just jabber on for the sake of it. He can deliver a clear message.
“I’m really enjoying my time working with him. He’s always inquisitive and always asking questions, always knocking on my door for a chat.
“Leadership can just become a title and a tag that people do for the sake of it but he is doing it because he wants to. We have lots of confidential chats if something is happening in the group, and it stays between me and him.”