Fantastic read this. Tony Smith gets a mention in the development of McDermott. gu.com/p/3dq4e

Fantastic read this. Tony Smith gets a mention in the development of McDermott. gu.com/p/3dq4e

Yes a really good interview and Brian McDermott comes over as an interesting and intelligent bloke. Obviously hard edged but willing to listen and take on advice.

He seems like a nice hard working, tough as old boots type bloke. Think his autobiography would be a cracking holiday read. I'm saving my Moz one for when I go to France on my Jols. To that end, don't tell me what happened at Wembley in 09,10 & 12.

I read a full page puff in the Guardian yesterday about Brian McDermott the Leeds coach making him out to be some sort of cult hero figure because of Leeds success in recent years in the end of season play off competition. To my mind he's very much a villain of the piece in the present day game.Some people have short memories...Before he became this hero figure he was sacked by the Broncos because of his incompetence and seeming indifference and immediately before his first success in the play off Leeds fans were calling for his head on a platter. Then came an injury crisis at Leeds which meant that quite a few of their quality players only started playing at the back end of the season which meant they were fresh for the play off which they duly won...It has now been accepted that the way to win this competition is to *peak* at the back end of the season which means the whole season is condensed in the few weeks in the Autumn which means the rest of the season is devalued and is the main reason that after my season ticket runs out, if I use it at all, I'll be packing it in. McDermott is a hero by accident and default

at least you're not bitter about it

Brian Mcdermott has the 2nd best nose in Rugby league. 1st place goes to Shaun Briscoe, who can smell his own ear.

No he wasn't.







Incorrect







So teams didn't have to peak at the end of the season before? How did teams win GF's before McDermott arrived? By playing sh*t in the Playoffs?

By the end of 2010, McDermott had won just 40 games from a total of very close to 120 games and seen the club decline from 7th to 9th, 9th again, 11th and then to a position between 12th and 14th and was out of contract in July 2011. 7 wins from 38 games made a contract renewal implausible and it was no surprise that there was no offer of a new contract at Quins

Winners can smile, the rest can please themselves folks.



Whatever his record at London, or his record in the regular season at Leeds, what is indisputable is that his team have enjoyed far greater success as winners of SL than anyone else. Irrespective of whether he's the luckiest coach in SL or the canniest, the only stat that matters is measured in silverware.

He wasn't sacked by the Bronco's.

I'll spoil it for you. we won all three!

Yeah you might not want to get your answers from Wikipedia..........since when do SL coaches get given contracts that run out in July???



McDermott said: "I've really enjoyed my four years at Harlequins but I feel now is time to hand over the reins.



"I want to spend more time with my family, who live in Yorkshire, and this opportunity is very exciting."



That no contract had been discussed was just as much/if not more to do with McDermott wanting to return back north. He'd already interviewed for the England and Bradford jobs before the announcement in August that he'd be joining Leeds, so the Quins management will have known his wish to leave for a few months prior to that. Also after the Leeds announcement he still took charge of Quins for the several remaining games of the season......what a strange thing to do from somebody who was 'sacked'.



As for this bit.....





I presume you mean how McGuire and Peacock started 2011 injured?



Yet Peacock returned in Round 13 and played in 23 of the final 24 games plus the Exiles game,



and McGuire returned in Round 12 and played in 22 of the final 25 games



Hardly back end of the season stuff.

He's a good coach and a good bloke and he pushes boundaries which is good for the game. Good luck Leeds.

Is this being pedantic ? No, he wasn't sacked by the Broncos he was sacked by Harlequins....Would you like a razor blade to split that hair ?

No, he wasn't sacked by either! Have you not read the explanation above?

May I remind you of the answer you gave BEFORE me.......

I don't think McDermott get's the credit he deserves. I know it was Tony Smith who changed the culture at Leeds but McDermott has done a great job and in my opinion should also be the England coach.

Who cares what McDermott did at Harlequins, that was his past job. He's got Leeds to every final since he's been in charge so give him his credit.



Everyone has a past. Tony Smith began his head coaching career with the worst losing run in history and got relegated in his first season.

Who has done better since this sacking? McDermott or Harlequins/Broncos?

Leeds played in every round of all 3 competitions they entered last season. They won 2 and lost the other 1. The coach has to play a part in that. He's respectful of the opposition, for the most part, and is interesting to listen to. The fact that a lot of Leeds supporters wanted him gone at various points in the last 2 seasons, and they still won the GF twice, says a lot for him and his team. I like him.