McDermott still has motivation
BRIAN McDermott insists he is as motivated as ever as he embarks on his eighth season as Leeds head coach, a job he has no intention of giving up anytime soon.
The 47-year-old is the most successful coach in the Super League era after guiding the Rhinos to a fourth Grand Final win in seven years in 2017.
McDermott has also led Leeds to two Challenge Cup victories, a World Club Challenge success and the League Leaders’ Shield in the 2015 treble-winning season.
But despite describing his side’s 24-6 triumph over Castleford at Old Trafford in October as his best ever, he was clear that motivation will never be an issue.
“You’re asking a coach that’s won a few things since I’ve been here yet, interestingly, gets threatened with the sack every year,” said McDermott. “That’s what motivates me.
“I know the landscape is so volatile that just because we won last year doesn’t mean that it’s going to be any easier this year.
“I’m motivated to be good this year because I know if I’m not, people will be chopping our legs off and not letting us be as good as we can be.
“There’s a real sense of urgency about the group, whether you’ve won two or three Grand Finals or none. Because if you’re not, it’s a horrible place to be.
“Whether you’re losing a game or go on a losing run, I don’t want to be involved in that.
“My motivation is a number of things: one of them is money and another would be the euphoria of winning things.
“But I don’t mind admitting that the fear of failure and being down those bottom echelons makes you put things in place in pre-season that will make you good during the season.”
McDermott became Super League’s longest-serving coach when Tony Smith left Warrington at the end of last season and he has not ruled out becoming the competition’s answer to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
“This is my eighth year at Leeds and I love my job and love being at Leeds,” said McDermott.
“I was saying this in 2016, I love all the challenges that year brought, which was our worst season ever.
“I get tested and the players get tested at the peak, right at the coalface.
“There’s cameras everywhere we go and every time we lose, the media room is not empty, we get asked all sorts of questions.
“What that means is we’ve got to be good every single week, and that’s a real challenge and excites you.
“All people will say they want to be as good as they can be but then the environment I’m going to drop you into, you need to be as good as you can be or you’ll end up in the middle eights.
“That’s a real harsh yet very rewarding environment to work in.
“It excites me to death, so I’ll hopefully be doing this job for a few more years.” ■■The World Club Challenge between the Rhinos and Melbourne Storm on Friday February 16 at the AAMI Park, Melbourne is to be shown live on Sky Sports.
The 2017 Betfred Super League champions travel to Australia to face the 2017 NRL Premiers Melbourne Storm to be crowned the world’s best Rugby League team.
It is only the third time the World Club Challenge has been played in Australia and Rugby League fans will be able to watch live on Sky Sports Main Event (9am UK time).
Sky Sports have also confirmed that they will broadcast the Betfred Super League game between Wigan Warriors and Hull FC on Saturday February 10, which will be played at the WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
It is the first time ever a Super League fixture will be played outside Europe. Sky Sports will showcase the history making game on Main Event (8.45am UK time).
The following week, the two English clubs will take part in the first ever double-header games between Super League and the NRL teams at a single venue when Hull FC play St George Illawarra Dragons and Wigan Warriors face South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Saturday, February 17.
Sky Sports will once again show both fixtures live on Main Event (Hull FC v St George Illawarra, 6.45am UK time. Wigan Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs, 8.45am).