Video - Clean sweep: Brian McDermott sets the bar high for Leeds Rhinos

It is certainly a bold call given the West Yorkshire club, who enjoyed an historic ‘treble’ two years ago, spent most of last season at the bottom of Super League.

However, it underlines the confidence he has in his side completely transforming their fortunes after that wretched campaign saw them embroiled in a relegation fight.

Leeds finished ninth eventually but eased through the Qualifiers and finished on a high.

Admittedly, they have only added Australian hooker Matt Parcell – he was unveiled at yesterday’s season media launch –plus Championship players Corey Aston and Jack Ormondroyd to their squad but McDermott is positive they have what it takes to perform only a second clean sweep in their long history.

“We aim to win everything, that’s what we aim to do,” said the 46-year-old, who has guided Leeds to three Grand Final successes, two Challenge Cups, a League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Challenge since taking over in 2011.

“I think setting your team any sort of targets or goals, they’ve got to be realistic, they’ve got to be within a time scale and they’ve got to be credible – can your team do that?

“Now, in context of where this team’s been at for the last 18 months, it’s a big call, but I don’t think it’s an unrealistic call.

“I’ve run this past the players already and none of their eyes dropped; nobody broke eye contact, they were straight for it.

“Can I predict what happens? No, I can’t. But you know what our intentions are.”

The former Great Britain prop was asked if Leeds’s main aim in the league was to secure a top-eight place – avoiding the ignominy of the Qualifiers – or top-four which is eventually needed for the play-off semi-finals.

“We get a shield for being first past the post – the League Leaders’ Shield,” continued McDermott.

“We want that, that’s the big thing for us. Especially with the format of the comp now, to finish top of the pile after all those 30 rounds, that’s a big thing.

“Obviously there’s some mini-targets and goals we want to be good at, but in terms of getting in the top-eight first, then we get in the top-four, we need to go straight for top spot.”

McDermott added that he expects no further additions before the season insisting the current squad is “good enough” to achieve those aims while he has named a strong squad for England winger Ryan Hall’s testimonial game against Hull KR at Headingley tomorrow.

Parcell is in that squad, ready to make his debut just days after flying in from Sydney.

Clearly, people are keen to see what the 24-year-old can produce after Leeds paid Manly Sea Eagles an undisclosed fee last month to sign him on a two-year deal and also given the boots he has to fill.

Papua New Guinea international James Segeyaro made a huge impact after joining from Penrith Panthers on loan last June but refused to return from his off-season break just two months after penning a two-year contract.

Given hooker is such a pivotal position, that threw Leeds’s plans into disarray but Parcell is adamant he will last longer and not fall victim to homesickness which was Segeyaro’s complaint.

“I am confident that won’t be a problem,” he said.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do; I really enjoy the travel side and the opportunity to live on the other side of the world.

“I’ve been here a few days, am settling in really well and the weather’s not been too bad.

“It is a bit of a heatwave back home so I’d rather be over here. I am really looking forward to the opportunity and I want to be here long-term.”

Parcell turned down the chance to stay with Manly and said: “I was contracted for another two years, but got talking to Gary Hetherington and Brian McDermott and I thought this move would be best for my career.”

*Wakefield Trinity prop Anthony England, 30, has signed a new two-year deal that takes the former Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers and Warrington Wolves forward to the end of 2019 at least.