Brian McDermott

Brian G. McDermott (born in Wakefield, Yorkshire) is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He started as Head Coach of Harlequins RL of Super League on 8 July 2006 and departs on 4 September 2010.

McDermott was a Royal Marine for five years before playing professional rugby league. He joined Bradford Bulls in 1994, where he stayed for 10 years. He played mainly in the position at the Bulls.

After ending his playing career in 2004, McDermott moved into coaching. He had spells on the coaching staff at fellow Super League clubs Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos before accepting his first top-flight head coaching role at Quins RL in July 2006, replacing Tony Rea.

Brian McDermott won his first ever match as a Head Coach against Castleford. He went on to claim 5 wins and 4 losses in 2006. His record was boosted by the fact that he won three of these games by two or less points to take Quins to a very flattering seventh position in what was a season long battle against relegation with safety only certain with a couple of games to go.

In 2007, McDermott's team won at St Helens away at the start of the season. His luck from 2006 was not followed up with narrow wins being replaced by a series of home draws and he also saw him team lose the only tryless game in Super League history at Salford, 5-2. The club won just 9 games and finished 9th but was competitive in the main.

He started 2008 started with a heavy home loss to Wigan but then gained four...
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