Early promotion sees McDermott target top prize

McDermott, who last month left the top role at Harlequins to become Brian McClennan's assistant, was yesterday hastily installed as Headingley chief following the Kiwi's unexpected decision to quit.

Leeds had originally intended for him to take over from McClennan in 2012 but the New Zealander – who has overseen the most successful period in the club's history – has decided to head home to Auckland early.

McDermott, 40, was admittedly shocked by the change of plan but is relishing the opportunity to make his own print on Leeds, whose unprecedented three-year domination of Super League was brought to an end by Wigan last month.

"There are mixed emotions," he told the Yorkshire Post.

"It's come early and as a surprise but I'm also very determined to continue the good work Brian McClennan has put in place. He's leaving as a very respected and very successful coach and it's been really important to me that this has been as much driven by him than anything else.

"I wouldn't want to take over under a cloud; Brian is really upbeat and wants to get his family back to New Zealand while I feel for me the time is right."

Former Bradford and England prop McDermott, who previously worked for two years as a Rhinos assistant under Tony Smith before departing for London in 2006, takes over with Leeds having lost hold of the championship.

There has been inevitable speculation that their golden era is coming to an end but he insists they can swiftly respond in his debut campaign.

"It's irrelevant if it's my first season or not," said McDermott, who has signed a three-year deal. "The question is can this group of players get back to a Grand Final? Of course they can.

"We've just got to make the tough decisions when they need making and work hard. There isn't another way.

"It's not a case of me turning the place on its head. It doesn't need that. I've got to continue the work Bluey's been doing over the last three years but at the same time put on my own stamp. I am a different person."

Rated as one of the toughest players of his generation, the former Marine from Wakefield is now one of the most respected young British coaches having forged his own style in the difficult environment of London and developed some quality players.

McClennan, 48, said: " I've been meeting with Brian over the last three or four weeks and it's been fantastic.

"Initially we decided to get him in and ready for the year after but I know he's ready now and I think the players are really going to enjoy having Brian head up the team.

"I'm pleased for him because he's done the hard yards at Quins. He's got a group of players here he'll really enjoy – a wonderful core with Kevin Sinfield who's an outstanding captain and great person, Jamie Peacock, Keith Senior and Danny Buderus. It's a fine arsenal to crack on with and the club's in a great position."

McClennan, who won two Super League titles with Leeds, helped them lift the 2008 World Club Challenge and took them to Wembley in August, had only signed a new one-year deal in May but admitted he struggled over the decision then.

He has now realised he wants to put his family first after returning from a recent holiday in Spain and added: "I just thought if I stayed for one more year it'd be more for selfish reasons.

"The highlight definitely was when we won the 2009 Grand Final and just knowing we were the first to do three in a row."

The 48-year-old maintains his decision is not based on Leeds's failure to reach the Grand Final for the first time since he arrived. He will spend time on his sports consultancy business, which he set up before moving to England, but ultimately wants to coach in Australia.

"When I was here when we won the Tri Nations with New Zealand in 2005 at Elland Road I got asked if I was ready to be an NRL coach," explained the ex-Kiwi chief. "I said 'no' but I think now, with the successes I've had here, I can say I'm in a pretty decent position to go on and do that. My next goal is to win an NRL Grand Final."

McDermott's immediate task is to assemble his own coaching staff, with McClennan's assistants Francis Cummins and Willie Poching having departed at the end of the season.

FACTFILE

Brian McDermott

Age: 40

Born: Wakefield

Playing career: Bradford Bulls – 251 games, 33 tries

Honours: Super League (1997, 2001), Challenge Cup (2000), World Club Challenge (2002)

Internationals: GB – four caps; England – one cap

Coaching career: 2003 – Huddersfield Giants conditioning coach

2004-2006 – Leeds Rhinos assistant coach

2006-2010 – Harlequins head coach

2010 – Leeds Rhinos head coach