Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves: New band of heroes ready to step up to the plate

The opening game of the new First Utility Super League sees champions Leeds host Warrington Wolves at what will be a slightly eerie Headingley given the absence of not only those two aforementioned greats but Kylie Leuluai, the club’s greatest overseas player, who has retired, too.

Between them, they racked up a staggering 1,048 appearances in blue and amber, securing 19 Grand Final winners’ rings along the way, so their loss is considerable to say the least.

McDermott remains confident of the squad’s ability to manage that loss and sees in the likes of Liam Sutcliffe, the 21-year-old who will take on former captain Sinfield’s stand-off role, talented people excited by the challenge.

“I’m hesitant to say he was an absolute legend and how will we replace him, but he was,” said the coach, when asked about prolific points scorer Sinfield, following his switch to Yorkshire Carnegie after 19 years at Rhinos.

“You don’t try and replace him – he was one of the best players Super League has ever seen, and rugby league as well.

“The leadership that Kev’s shown, it would be hard to match that. But I’m conscious not to try and replace that as well.

“There will come a time this year I’m sure where I’ll be answering questions from you guys (media) saying ‘well you’ve lost a game by two points, if Kev was here you wouldn’t have lost?’

“And we’ll lose a game where we get rumbled up the middle and it’ll be ‘that wouldn’t happen if you had Jamie Peacock?’

“I know, but there’s not much we can do and I’m pretty confident with where things are at.

“What we probably under-estimate is the desire of a Sutcliffe or a (Brad) Singleton to take up the reins of those that have left.

“The Carl Abletts and Brett Delaneys that have got to step up again. It isn’t them stepping into the breach with a bit of anxiety –they’re actually looking forward to this. You look at Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins and Zak (Hardaker) and we have a fair few ready to take that next step and become leaders in their own right.”

Let us not forget, either, that such was Sutcliffe’s form last year that the tall Leeds-born youngster actually kept Sinfield out of the side for a large period until he ruptured a cruciate ligament in June and missed the rest of the season.

McDermott admitted: “Sutty was a big part of the reason why we were good last year.

“In some of our best games offensively, Sutty and Danny McGuire were our starting halves. We certainly missed him when he was injured.

“We had to adapt, evolve and Kev came back into the side and we pushed on which was great.

“We rate Sutty and I think he’ll go well again this year. He’s a talent and brings that running game into our offence rather than the ‘catch, pass and put on the play’ half-backs that you get nowadays.

“He’s a bit like a longer version of the young kid (England’s George Williams) at Wigan.”

Leeds, meanwhile, may have won the treble last season but they lost both regular round games against Warrington so will be mindful of that tonight.

Tony Smith’s side have recruited boldly, too, having eventually come in sixth, their worst finish since 2009, Australian half-back Kurt Gidley joining Hull FC duo Tom Lineham and Joe Westerman at Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“I’d imagine all their focus in pre-season has been about this game, and rightly so,” said McDermott, who is set to give debuts to his own recruits Brett Ferres, Beau Falloon and Keith Galloway.

“They were probably disappointed with how they went last year but I’m sure they’ll be fired up for round one – as will we.”