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10:46 GMT, Monday, 5 May 2008 11:46 UK

McDermott leaves us guessing

By Phil Gordos
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

Brian McDermott Bizarre, sure. Mystifying, definitely. A little worrying - that too. Brian McDermott's post-match interview was one of sport's weirdest moments.

Upset at his Harlequins side's capitulation against Catalans when leading by 10 points with just seven minutes remaining, the former Great Britain international was always going to be in a prickly mood.

But his reaction to some sensitive questioning from the media was just plain wrong.

Asked what his overriding emotions were after the game, he snapped: "Are you a psychologist? Do you want to ask about the game?"

It didn't get much better.

McDermott's responses ranged from "I disagree" to "I have no opinion on that question", hardly something for the press pack to get their teeth into.

What did that mean? Did he think rugby league was never going to truly work in London, or was he suggesting he'd had enough of life in the capital?

Only McDermott, an ex-soldier, knows what he was getting at.

"He's a very emotional guy and he's rightly upset, given all the hard work he puts in"
Jon Wells

Sadly, he beat a hasty retreat once the journalists had thrown in the towel so we might never know.

Instead, it was left to Jon Wells to decipher McDermott's coded messages and attempt to pour oil on troubled waters.

The London stalwart, who has spent the last five years playing his rugby league in the capital and is happily ensconced in the south with a wife and child, insisted we shouldn't read too much into his coach's comments.

"He's a very emotional guy and he's rightly upset given all the hard work he puts in," Wells told me.

"He just cares a great deal about the club and the health of rugby league in the capital."

Maybe so, but is there any chance McDermott may have had enough? Is there a danger the loss to the Dragons had tipped him over the edge, prompting him to seek refuge back home in his beloved Yorkshire?

"No, not a shadow of doubt," said Wells. "He's doing too good a job."

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Then came the bombshell: "I am asking some questions whether the whole bit of being in London works."

To his credit, McDermott has made a difference during his short time with Quins.

His team are just going through a bit of bad patch, having thrown away victory in their last two Super League games.

"We are just not making the right calls on the field and we're not playing for the entire 80 minutes," added Wells.

"Playing for 60 minutes or 73 minutes is not good enough."

But while they did play, they entertained.

At one stage, they were throwing the ball around with such abandon that someone suggested they should undergo another name change, from Harlequins to the Harlem Globetrotters.

It was wonderful stuff, much appreciated by all those inside the Millennium Stadium, which wasn't that many given the majority of Hull FC, Hull KR, St Helens and Wigan fans were still outside, sampling the delights of Cardiff.

It also set the right tone for the rest of the afternoon's entertainment.

The Hull derby lived up to its billing, Rovers edging that one, while Saints gave another of their trademark masterclasses to destroy Wigan.

Saturday's action may have fallen a little flat, but Sunday's more than made amends.

See you again next year, but will that be in Cardiff or Edinburgh?




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Related to this story:

Catalans 18-16 Harlequins (04 May 08 |  Rugby League )
St Helens 57-16 Wigan (04 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Hull 17-22 Hull KR (04 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Millennium magic? (04 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Bradford 26-40 Leeds (03 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Castleford 16-54 Wakefield (03 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Huddersfield 34-36 Warrington (03 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Millennium Magic photos (03 May 08 |  Rugby League )
Millennium Magic day one as it happened (03 May 08 |  Rugby League )
McNamara focused on derby victory (01 May 08 |  Bradford )
Rhinos ready for Millennium Magic (01 May 08 |  Leeds )
Offside row leads to rule change (23 May 07 |  Rugby League )
I was wrong, says referee Ganson (07 May 07 |  Rugby League )
Bradford were cheated - McNamara (06 May 07 |  Rugby League )

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