Leeds triumph cuts Gillette honour for McDermott

LEEDS coach Brian McDermott’ achievement in guiding the Rhinos to a fifth Super League title against all the odds is recognised by his selection as one of five personalities of the year in the Gillette Rugby League Yearbook 2011/2012.

The former Bradford and Great Britain prop became the first coach to lead a side to Grand-Final glory from outside the top three when the fifth-placed Rhinos beat St Helens 32-16 at Old Trafford in October.

“It was an amazing achievement by both the coach and his players in a season in which the Rhinos had been written off, even by many of their own supporters,” said contributing editor Tim Butcher.

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The other individuals judged by the book editors to have made the biggest impact on rugby league in 2011 are Castleford’s New Zealand-born Man of Steel Rangi Chase, who made his England debut in the Four Nations Series, Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins, Featherstone’s championship-winning coach Daryl Powell and retired Australia captain Darren Lockyer.

The Yearbook, published by League Publications Ltd, has hit the shelves barely two weeks after the 2011 season concluded with the Four Nations final.

Now in its 16th year and firmly established as the successor to the Rothmans Yearbook, it contains the full story of the domestic year, details of the international season and the Australian NRL season and match facts for every fixture in 2011.