IT isn’t every week we are in the headlines, but our capture of high-profile Brian McDermott as coaching consultant to the end of the season has certainly thrust Roughyeds into the rugby league spotlight.
Take this week’s issue of League Express.
We’ve got a front-page taster with ‘McDermott’s coaching return’ ranked alongside ‘RFL faces anxious Wembley wait’ and ‘Giants admit interest in Wolves star’ at the top of the page.
A splash story on page 2, headlined ‘McDermott lifts spirits at Oldham’ is supported by a large image of the most successful coach in Super League history.
On page 9, outspoken columnist Garry Schofield, the former Great Britain stand-off, gives his take on the big news, titled ‘McDermott’s toughest job’.
Writes Schoey:
“Oldham are desperately trying to stave off relegation from the Championship.
“Bringing in Brian McDermott as coaching consultant — a curious title — is a bold move, if a bit of a head-scratcher.
“It’s hard to fathom why a man who has nothing to prove as a coach and who is used to working at the top level wants to get involved in a second-tier dogfight.
“Fair play to Oldham for persuading him to come on board and to Brian for rolling up his sleeves and getting involved.
“He’ll find quite a contrast between full-time rugby at Leeds, then Toronto, clubs with great facilities and plentiful support staff, and Oldham, where many players arrive for an evening training session straight from work.”
