McDermott buoyed by Boxing Day display
December 30, 2011 11:57:24 UK
Rob Burrow will be an integral part of the Leeds squad once again in 2012.Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott took a lot of positives from the team's Boxing Day victory over Wakefield, and is particularly excited about the progress shown by several of his young squad members.
Like most Super League clubs, the Rhinos are well into their preparations for pre-season, and, following a break for the new year, the players will be back out on the training field and going all out to be ready in time for their first match of the new season, a home clash against Hull KR on 3rd February.
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I don't think it was the flashiest of games ever but I didn't think it was quite as pedestrian as I thought it might be.
Brian McDermott
"We are two-thirds of the way through pre-season now and I think that our performance on Boxing Day was as expected. I don't think it was the flashiest of games ever but I didn't think it was quite as pedestrian as I thought it might be," said McDermott, who led the Rhinos to Grand Final success in 2011.
"I think we can get excited about our individual performances more than where our team is structurally. Our outside backs looked well, Watkins and Hardaker in particular. There was some sharp stuff there. Hood came on and I thought McShane had a very strong game.
"There are two very different styles with those two. With Hood, you may generalise by saying he is a darter out of dummy half and McShane has a lot more subtleties and he uses the ball a lot more. We are blessed in that department this year."
Leeds Rhinos are 7.00 to win the Grand Final in 2012 and 15.00 to finish top of the regular season standings. They are also available at 5.50 to win the Challenge Cup next year.
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