McDermott wants cup win for players

Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott wants to finally end the club’s horrific history with the Challenge Cup on Saturday – and add what he described as ‘the missing piece of the jigsaw’ to the careers of many of his senior players.

Jamie Peacock is the only member of the Rhinos squad to have tasted Challenge Cup glory – in his days with Bradford. And McDermott admits although it means a lot to him personally to win the cup, doing it for his squad would be a very special achievement indeed.

“That’s my job,” McDermott said. “And if I can deliver it, it would mean a fair bit to me.

“I’ve listened to them all talk about it. I don’t think they go searching the streets for answers or looking in the stars because they’ve all by their own right been very successful in everything except the Challenge Cup.

“It’s the missing piece in the jigsaw and I know it means a lot to them. If I can deliver that, I’d be over the moon. I’d be over the moon for myself as well.”