Barrie McDermott makes bold prediction about Leeds Rhinos in 2022

Barrie McDermott knows all about the Leeds Rhinos having played for the West Yorkshire club for ten years.

Almost 300 appearances later and the rampaging prop left for pastures new at Widnes in 2006 before retiring at the end of that year.

Since then, the 49-year-old formed part of the Leeds backroom staff but more recently has become one of Sky Sports’ most regular commentators.

With such experience under his belt, McDermott is eager to see what the Rhinos team of 2022 can do, predicting massive improvements from the side that finished fifth and ended the play-offs at the semi-final stage.

“I like what they’ve got, I like how their younger players got better last year,” McDermott told the Rugby League Review podcast.

“I’m sad to see Luke Gale go, it was a difficult year for him, but I don’t think he strung enough games together.

“But then you look at Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin, they’ve got history together from when they were at Canberra, so they will be familiar with each other.

“I think Leeds will be in the top three this season.

“The pack of forwards is as good as they have had since 2015.”

Alongside Sezer and Austin, Leeds have also signed David Fusitu’a and James Bentley.