Gillette Rugby League Yearbook 2011-2012 acknowledges Brian McDermott
Leeds coach, Brian McDermott, has been listed as one of five personalities of the year in the Gillette Rugby League Yearbook 2011-2012 after his stellar performance of taking his side to their fifth Super League title.
McDermott was able to claim Grand Final glory by annihilating St Helens by a 32-16 win at Old Trafford in October. The Rhinos’ win is considered a record on its own accord because when the squad laid claim to the title they were not even ranked in the top
three teams of the league.
While speaking about the honour, editor Tim Butcher wrote, "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."
It is believed that Rhinos were only able to perform well under the renowned coaching skills of McDermott, an English professional rugby league football player turned coach. His coaching career took off at Harlequins RL of Super League in 2006, where he
stayed until 2010. His stint at Quins featured him as coach in 143 games, out of which his side won 51 and drew in four of them, leaving the remainder 88 as loses. If we evaluate his success rate based on the figures, his winning percentage was almost 36%,
which means that under his coaching his side lost more games.
However, when the coach joined at Leeds in 2011, his side’s very first year’s performance was a major leap for him because out of a total of 27 games played under his coaching, 16 were won and only one was levelled, while only ten of the total were lost.
Resultantly, his winning percentage has soared to 59% which is a dramatic jump in figures. The same year featured Rhinos’, who were fifth in the League ladder, getting an unexpected win in the Super League Grand Final 2011.
This year’s statistics showcased by McDermott makes him worthy of the recognition he has received, after his name was included in the RL yearbook 2011-2012.
There are a host of other players who have made an big impact on rugby league in 2011. Amongst other players who have outdone themselves in the past one year include Castleford Tigers’ Rangi Chase, Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins, Featherstone’s coach Daryl
Powell and former Australia captain Darren Lockyer.
This is the 16th year of the yearbook release and it has firmly established itself taking over the Rothmans Yearbook.The Yearbook published by League Publications Ltd, is out in market just after two weeks of the wrap up of 2011 season, which
finished off with Four Nations final. It contains detailed coverage of the international and domestic season, the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) season and the match reports along with their post-match analysis of each and evey fixture played in 2011.
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