Brian McDermott believes British coaches should be given more chances
While talking to media at the special rugby league event, which was part of the BBC’s Celebrate Sport festival, Brian McDermott, the Leeds Rhinos coach, believes that British coaches should be given more preference over others whenever more recruits are
to be made in Super League quarters.
McDermott was previously coaching at Harlequins before he joined in with Rhinos in 2011, as their coach and guided his club to their first Super League Glory after 2005, which was under Brian Noble’s exceptional coaching.
While sharing his thoughts at the festival, McDermott said, “I'm proud to be a British coach and in our sport they often get a rough run. It rankles that there are some good coaches who are not getting a look-in. It would be nice if some club owners at least
interviewed and found out about the next crop of British coaches. There has to come a point where if you are going to keep growing your juniors and promoting from within, then British coaches have to be a part of that too.”
McDermott further added that there comes a point when juniors are eventually promoted to take up coaching positions. It appears that British coaches are not adopting that strategy, which is also apparent from the fact that out of all Super league Club only
5 out of 14 have British coaches.
Apart from McDermott who is serving Rhinos, there are four more British Super League coaches, including London Broncos’ Rob Powell, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ Richard Agar’s, Widnes’ Denis Betts and the Wigan Warriors’ Shaun Wane.
Also, Leeds’ coach highlighted the issue which had been in practise since ever, resulting in more overseas inductions for the coaching positions.
While talking about it the McDermott added that the basic reason why he considered it to be that way is because the British coaches are not even given an interview chance before they go ahead with other overseas options.
He went on and added that he did not have any issues with overseas coaches if they are best in their skills. However, he feels that if the British coach winning the Super League title is also given a chance, that will be great.
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