Leeds Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington is headed to Australia to find the club’s next head coach and it could mean a big name leaving the NRL to turn the fortunes of the English glamour club around.

Long-term Leeds chief Hetherington admitted the next signing would be as big as when he got Tony Smith to the club in the early 2000’s.

“I believe this appointment is as important as my decision to bring Tony Smith in back in 2003,” he said.

“In contrast, back then we were challenging for honours on all fronts but needed to go to the next level with a new appointment.

“To that end, we have begun an exhaustive search both at home and abroad and this weekend I will travel to Australia to meet a number of potential candidates to speak to them in person and further advance our search for a new head coach.”

Leeds last won the Super League in 2017.