Brian McDermott: Mindful of the World Club Challenge with Manly

Share this article:

Leeds have Manly on their minds

Leeds coach Brian McDermott has admitted that his team are thinking about next Friday’s World Club Challenge with Manly.

The Rhinos face Wigan in a Super League clash at the weekend but already have one eye on the clash between England and Australia’s champion sides.

“We’re mindful of it,” McDermott told PA Sport.

“We know we will have to be very good against Manly so we’re using these two games to get as many points as we can and also to try to get some form and momentum.

“We need to be in good shape for when we play Manly.

“Nobody is getting rested and we’re not holding off. If it was round 25 and it was the Challenge Cup Final the week after I might be saying something different but we’ve only just got going.

“We need to build up as much momentum as we can so that we hit Manly with everything we’ve got.”

McDermott revealed that the competition for places for the match squad is proving to be a huge motivation factor.

“It’s a massive incentive,” he said.

“Everybody is jittery about who’s going to get what shirt. They know if they don’t attain the standards that we know they can consistently, we’ve got a deep squad.

“That’s a great threat, I can’t motivate like that.

“You can get motivational speakers in and take them on team-building exercises but you can’t create better motivation than the thought that they’re going to lose that shirt. It’s the biggest motivation ever.”