Following his recent exit from Featherstone Rovers, former Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott looks set for a surprise move down under.
McDermott is set for a sensational switch to the NRL as assistant coach to Adam O’Brien’s Newcastle Knights, according to the Daily Telegraph.
McDermott is the most decorated coach in Super League history, having won four Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and one World Club Challenge with Leeds Rhinos before his departure in mid-2018.
Following his exit, he joined Toronto Wolfpack in 2019, guiding the club to promotion in the same year.
Newcastle’s previous assistant, Willie Peters, has moved to the UK to join Hull Kingston Rovers as head coach. They have been scouting for a replacement and it is now reported that they have found their man in McDermott.
The Knights finished last season in 14 th place, their worst finish since 2017 and will be looking for a vast improvement next year after two top-eight finishes the two years prior.
The year 2022 has been a very underwhelming year for McDermott, after failing to reach the Betfred Championship Grand Final with Featherstone, as well as multiple defeats to league rivals Leigh Centurions – including one in the 1895 Cup Final at the Tottenhame Hotspur Stadium.
Both McDermott and Newcastle will be looking for a better year next year, should the rumours be true, with McDermott currently working with the Fiji national team for the Rugby League World Cup.
