Danny Ward is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over as Leeds Rhinos' new head coach. The Rhinos are on the lookout for a new man to take the reins after Richard Agar stood down from the position on Monday morning.
Agar had been in the role for almost three years, but after seeing his side win one of their opening six Super League games this season he made the decision to resign from his position. Agar still has a future at Headingley, though, and he has been tipped to be a long-term successor to Kevin Sinfield as Leeds’ director of rugby.
The Rhinos have started the hunt for a new head coach and a number of candidates will be considered while Jamie Jones-Buchanan takes charge on an interim basis. Former London Broncos boss Ward is the favourite with Betfred at this early stage with the bookmaker offering odds as short as 2/1.
Read more: Richard Agar was an unfashionable appointment who did an underappreciated job
Of course, Ward is a former Leeds player and made 135 appearances in blue and amber before going on to represent Castleford Tigers, Hull KR and Harlequins. However, he is highly rated as a coach and is credited with taking London Broncos to the Super League in his first full season in charge.
Ward left London in July and he is currently working in rugby union having taken up a role with Rosslyn Park. Former Featherstone Rovers coach Ryan Carr is the second favourite for the job and he’s priced at 7/2.
The Australian is someone well known to Leeds having worked as an assistant to Agar while at Post Office Road and he has been linked to the role previously. He currently works at Parramatta Eels.
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is priced at 9/2, while Australians Shane Flanagan and Michael Monaghan are 6/1. England boss Shaun Wane, who had time with Leeds as a player, is at 10/1 and so is Cameron Ciraldo, who is currently on the Penrith Panthers coaching roster.
Interestingly, current Hull KR boss Tony Smith is also at 10/1. Smith coached Leeds to Grand Final success in 2004 and 2007 during his time at Headingley and he is in in the final year of his contract at Craven Park.
Smith’s assistant Danny McGuire is 12/1 and that’s the same price as Jones-Buchanan who looks set to be in charge on Saturday against Castleford Tigers. Paul Green, Steve McNamara and Ian Watson are also at 12/1.
Further down the odds list there are notable names such as Brian McDermott (20/1), Adrian Lam (20/1), Kevin Sinfield (25/1), Sean Long (33/1) and Jamie Peacock (50/1).
The full Betfred odds list
Danny Ward – 2/1
Ryan Carr – 7/2
Anthony Seibold - 9/2
Shane Flanagan – 6/1
Michael Monaghan – 6/1
Cameron Ciraldo – 10/1
Shaun Wane – 10/1
Tony Smith – 10/1
Jamie Jones-Buchanan – 12/1
Danny McGuire – 12/1
Paul Green – 12/1
Steve McNamara – 12/1
Ian Watson – 12/1
Justin Morgan – 16/1
James Ford – 20/1
Brian McDermott – 20/1
James Webster – 20/1
Adrian Lam – 20/1
Willie Poching – 25/1
Michael Maguire – 25/1
Kevin Sinfield – 25/1
Daryl Powell – 33/1
Stephen Kearney – 33/1
Sean Long – 33/1
Ellery Hanley – 33/1
Jamie Peacock – 50/1
Barrie McDermott – 100/1
All odds from Betfred and correct at time of writing.
