Former Super League Champion Barrie McDermott reveals his dark horses for Super League 2022

Barrie McDermott knows all about Super League, having played for West Yorkshire club Leeds Rhinos for ten years in the top flight.

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.

Both a Challenge Cup winner and Super League Champion with Leeds, the former prop forward knows exactly what’s needed to win the competition and he has now had his say on who he believes will be there or thereabouts at the end of the year.

“The frontrunners are Saints, Catalans will have a good year and Leeds may upset a few,” McDermott told the Rugby League Review podcast.

“They will likely win those big games as that halfback pairing of Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin looks mouthwatering.”

However, the 49-year-old was also keen to stress that there is usually a dark horse that comes out of nowhere to spring a surprise on the rest of the competition – and he has had his say on which Super League side fits the bill in 2022.

“There’s always a team that comes from nowhere and strings half a dozen wins together and that team might be Hull KR like it was in 2021.”