Barrie McDermott ‘didn’t like’ Scott Taylor tackle but says he is not a dirty player

In a hectic game a somewhat controversial moment was perhaps missed because it did not lead to a try.

That moment came as Leeds Rhinos trailed 16-12 against Hull FC and Richie Myler caught a high kick.

Brilliantly, prop Scott Taylor showed great pace to immediately tackle Myler. However, the Leeds fullback then felt that Taylor had twisted his leg into a dangerous position.

As Myler made his feelings known, Derrell Olpherts knocked on in another setback for Leeds.

It does beg the question, should there have been action taken against Taylor.

The moment was reminiscent of a similar incident in the same game in 2015 when Marc Sneyd rolled Danny McGuire’s ankle after a tackle and was sin binned.

It is safe to say that Barrie McDermott wasn’t impressed by the attention from Taylor.

He said “I don’t like the look of that” but also said that he doesn’t think being intentionally dirty is in the prop’s game.

“He doesn’t like the attention Richie Myler, he is still going at Scott Taylor,” McDermott said on Sky Sports.

“When the tackle is made, there is an accusation of a twist or a tweak around the foot.

“He has done his best to get there, has got hold of a leg. Does he take an extra twist? Now Scott Taylor, I am not sure that is in his game but I don’t like the look of that.”

Meanwhile, Jon Wilkin focused on the knock on that followed the incident not looking to give Olpherts an excuse: “I don’t like the look at that either. A second tackle carry, what a place to turn over the ball. 10 metres out from your own line.”

In the end it was ironically Taylor who scored the winning try.

Wilkin said it was all about will from the prop: “There’s loads of ways to score a rugby league try. Some are creative, some are pretty, but not this one. That was sheer will, strength of carry.”