Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR: Under fire '“ but Leeds boss Brian McDermott remains confident of upturn

Whether they will continue to do so if last season’s treble-winners lose an eighth game of the year on Friday night against fellow strugglers Hull KR remains to be seen.

Defending champions Leeds, hit by injuries and badly out of form, are in desperate need of a win at Headingley having endured a torrid Easter, losing at Castleford and again on Monday at home to lowly Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Just two victories from nine games is an alarming return and they sit only two points above bottom place. McDermott, of course, has encountered some torrid periods before during his six-year reign at the West Yorkshire club and, invariably, emerged with silverware.

“I have been through some tough times with Leeds in the past and the crowd have been a little bit free with their thoughts,” he admitted. “Some of it was not great. But I think (now) it’s been very refreshing.

“There are some; I got a letter this morning from an 84-year-old bloke telling me just how poor he thinks my team is playing, the worst team he’s ever seen. And I’ve had a few of those in the past.

“But the vast majority of people have got it covered. They know where it’s at.

“The support versus Cas and Wakefield against some very tough losses was very good.

“It was an educated support I thought. They’re not being unrealistic. There will come a time where they want to see us win, of course, but I think a lot of Leeds fans are showing their loyalty and support.”

The planned return of Danny McGuire, their captain and playmaker, after being out since the opening night should bolster Leeds’ chances of recovery.

However, Hull KR, a point behind Rhinos with just a solitary win, will have their own talisman Terry Campese reunited with them and Shaun Lunt, the former England hooker who won a Grand Final with Leeds under McDermott in 2012.

Furthermore, McDermott freely concedes his players, so akin to winning, are troubled by their lack of fluency and results.

“I don’t look at a team that’s miles off or floundering around,” he said. “Some of it looks very ugly – it did against Wakefield – but they are busting a gut to get it done. I don’t question players’ desire or commitment. Some of the players are a bit down on themselves – there’s a big, dark cloud over some at the moment and you’d expect that.

“It’s almost my task just to get that cloud away from them and to get them to play with their eyes up, be more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed out there.

“It’s easier said than done when there’s a whole load of negativity going on but we try and be positive. We know it will happen for us and it will come.”

Granted, Leeds are still working under contingency plans after their training base at Kirkstall was flooded over Christmas – physios were giving treatment in the media room prior to Thursday’s press conference at Headingley – and McDermott says that has not helped.

“We’re still a couple of months away from not being on the road, not being nomads, but when we do return there and get some bodies back in the team, I know things will turn,” said the 46-year-old, who maintains he sees this unexpected challenge as “fascinating”.

“Until then we have to make sure everyone stays controlled and we’re not over-reacting.

“For sure it’s a challenge. The working weeks are not fun. It’s hard to have to continually look at what we’re getting wrong every single week.

“It’s not a great environment for us at the moment and, on game day itself, we’re not getting rewards either.”

Nevertheless, the former Bradford Bulls prop, who has guided Leeds to three Grand Final wins and a Challenge Cup glory in each of the last two seasons, insists he is relishing the examination of his own credentials.

Brett Delaney, Brett Ferres, Ryan Hall, Stevie Ward and Tom Briscoe are just some of the stellar names missing against Rovers and McDermott added: “I’ve never known a season like it where – not so many long-termers – but just that everybody is carrying something.

“We’re on the road and when we do get a patch of grass, facilitating a defensive session with the numbers we have is really difficult. We’ve been handcuffed really in what can do in practice.

“That’s not a whinge just an explanation of what’s going on. I’m not going to sit here and just put on a brave face and says it’s fine.

“It is a crazy situation. But the club are providing a workplace for us to be as good as we can be and I’m very grateful of that.”