LEEDS RHINOS’ sporting director Ian Blease has revealed he is “really pleased” with the news that head coach Brad Arthur has extended his stay at Headingley for another year.

Much of the year has been dominated by the debate over whether or not Arthur would stay at the West Yorkshire club after being linked with the Perth Bears job back in Australia.

However, Arthur and Leeds agreed to a 12-month rolling contract which Blease insists he is happy with.

“I’m really pleased with it,” Blease said on Sky Sports’ The Bench podcast.

“I was sort of confident when we did the interview last time looking back and thinking about how we did it and how close we spoke about it throughout the months leading up to it, me and Brad.

“But, I’m really pleased to get it over the line. I’ll probably sleep a bit a night now.”

Blease also explained why only a short deal has been agreed: “We both agreed it couldn’t go on any further. I thought I’d been very patient, don’t you think? I got a bit of pressure from you (media) and the fans were becoming impatient as well, they wanted the answer.

“We have done another 12 months, that’s two-and-a-half years nearly that we’ve had him which I think is good.

“The other side I thought about, what is a contract worth anyway in this day and age? You could sign a five-year, and eight-year contract and somebody could walk anyway.

“I said to Brad, if there’s ever a point where you are unhappy, I don’t want to keep any player, or any member of staff here that’s unhappy.

In terms of the terms of the contract, I’m okay with that, and we’ll have that honest and open discussion next year.”

So is there an NRL release clause in Arthur’s contract?

“It’s not a release clause, it’s a conversation which everybody does anyway, don’t they? [Speak to NRL teams]

“Players do and staff do more than I will ever know in terms of people discussing things behind your back, it happens in sport.”

“I trust him honestly enough to say I’m going or I’m staying again.”