McDermott aware that Catalan are starting to travel well

DEspite some recent wobbles, Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott believes his side are unrecognisable from the one that last faced Catalan Dragons.

The reigning champions entertain the French club this evening having won just one of their last four league fixtures.

When they faced Catalan in Perpignan last July, struggling Leeds slumped to a 38-18 defeat, a season’s nadir which saw them briefly slip out of the top eight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McDermott is not unduly concerned about this current dip though, which sees them in sixth, and said: “We’re a million miles away from that (Catalan) type of form or that state of the team.

“While we’re not happy with where we are in the league at the moment, and we’ve just come off the back of some games where we haven’t been happy with how we’ve played, I think we’re in far better shape.

“And once we get our preferred 13 on the field, we’ve shown that we go really well this year.

“Our task at the moment is to keep getting our preferred 13 on the field and give them some game time.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of course, the West Yorkshire club staged a remarkable recovery last year and went on to win the title from fifth spot.

Catalan are proving genuine contenders this time around and could draw level with leaders Huddersfield Giants if they succeed at Headingley Carnegie.

They have an awful record to overcome having lost on all seven previous trips to the ground but, with internationals Leon Pryce and Thomas Bosc due to return, should be near full strength,

McDermott said: “I think they are a very good side who are well coached and a major threat for silverware this season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Obviously they are a threat to any team on their own patch such is the reputation they have built up down there in Perpignan.

“But they are adding to that now with some consistent form away from home.

“They are a well-balanced side with two very good halves in Scott Dureau and Leon Pryce and a very big pack in front of them that is led by Ian Henderson.

“They will be a major challenge for us and we will need to step up our performances from the London and Wakefield games recently.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Captain Kevin Sinfield makes his 450th career appearance while McDermott will hand a debut to Shaun Lunt, the England hooker who joined on loan from Huddersfield this week, and prop Richard Moore will return.

The coach will wait until this morning to decide on Rob Burrow’s fitness. He suffered a cheekbone injury in the Challenge Cup win over Wakefield a week ago and will speak to a specialist today.

However, Jamie Jones-Buchanan is another three weeks away from fitness, Weller Hauraki likewise and Kallum Watkins has not yet recovered from the knee injury suffered at Bradford on Good Friday.