Leeds Rhinos v Manly: Manly hold no fear for Rhinos, says McDermott

They face Manly Sea Eagles hoping to arrest a slump which has seen the domestic competition’s champions lose three consecutive titles against their Australian counterparts.

Given the England national side’s long-running failure against Australia, stretching back four decades and encompassing November’s Four Nations final defeat, the sport here could certainly benefit from a lift in morale.

Many critics feel English clubs need to mimic the NRL if there is ever going to be any advances made at international level.

However, in regard to that Four Nations loss, McDermott said: “I’m sick of hearing people judge just what they see on the TV screen.

“They go home and don’t ask any questions about the whys and wherefores. They don’t really want to know the answers. They just want to whinge about it.

“I’m sick of our competition being compared to NRL standards and what we should and shouldn’t do to catch up.

“I just think they are two different competitions. They’ve got a fantastic concept over there where it is a far bigger sport with a lot more resources and money than over here. So, to try and judge us on their standards is unfair on the players in that Four Nations.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t beat them. I think we can and we have to keep hold of some of what made the British rugby league really strong – a bit of attitude, a bit of pride about being a British bloke, of being cold in winter and all that.

“Rightly or wrongly, most people in England will judge our competition based on what happens in the World Club Challenge.

“When it comes to Manly this Friday we know they hold some threat and are a very good team.

“But we’ve just got to make sure we do what Leeds do really well. I’m sure if we do that, we’ll be more than a match for them and there’s no one quaking in their boots about facing Manly.”

Since McDermott won the World Club Challenge as a Bradford Bulls player in 2002, Super League clubs lost only once more until Manly defeated Leeds 28-20 at Elland Road in 2009.

That narrow deficit masked the size of Manly’s real superiority that evening in a fearsome affair at Elland Road and Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra have continued the NRL resurgence since.

However, this year’s game is played at Headingley for the first time with more than 20,000 partisan supporters expected to pack in to give Leeds a genuine home advantage.

They also have the benefit of two Super League games under their belt while the Sydney opponents have yet to start their season for real and only arrived last weekend with no warm-up game.

Twelve Rhinos players who featured in 2009 remain tonight as the West Yorkshire club – who have Ben Jones-Bishop replacing Lee Smith on the wing – seek to gain their revenge for that reverse.

McDermott, who guided Leeds to the Super League title in his first year last season, added: “We’re really looking forward to it.

“The prize on offer is to be called world champions. Pretty much straight after the Grand Final, attention started turning to the World Club Challenge.

“Leeds have got history in it. The last time they played in one against Manly they lost so I do know they are talking about it.

“There are some individual players who will use it as motivation. As staff and officials, we won’t be using it but I do know it will have a bearing on people’s desire to get the job done.”

McDermott admits to having no great knowledge of their rivals which perhaps shows more confidence in his own squad than any lack of respect to the Australians.

“I’ve got to be brutally honest, I don’t know too much about them,” he said.

“I don’t have enough time to watch too many NRL games and when I get time, I don’t want to watch too many NRL games!

“It’s nothing against that competition but I’ve got to spend time with my family as well.

“I know about some of their individuals, such as Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Daly Cherry-Evans and they have some huge truckers up the middle but we’re ready for whatever comes.”

If Leeds prosper they will equal the record of both Bradford and Wigan in winning the title a third time, Tony Smith having guided them to success over Canterbury in 2005 before Brian McClennan’s side overcame Melbourne in 2008.

But Manly, with Geoff Toovey taking control for his first game following the bitter departure of Des Hasler, are confident of securing their own second title.

Leeds Rhinos (probable): Webb; Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Hardaker, Hall; Sinfield, McGuire; Bailey, Burrow, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Ablett. Replacements: Leuluai, Clarkson, Hauraki, Griffin.

Manly Sea Eagles (probable): B Stewart; Williams, Lyon, Matai, Oldfield; Foran, Cherry-Evans; King, Ballin, Kite, Watmough, Williams, G Stewart. Replacements: Buhrer, Mauro, Lussick, Rose.

Referee: A Klein (Australia).