Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook reveals the frank conversation with Super League legend that defined his career

Recently, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook made his 450th career appearance and is edging closer to his 350th St Helens appearance.

Speaking on Sky Sports to Barrie McDermott, LMS reflected on how it all started for Harlequins against Leeds Rhinos on a day when the Rhinos ran riot at the peak of their powers:

“We played against the great Leeds team of that era. It was daunting. I made my debut for Harlequins RL and the memory is we got absolutely stuffed.

“But you always remember your debut, I think it was like 60-0 or something like that. I got on and I tried to give it my all and lucky enough the coach at the time told me I had done well so I thought I had done something alright.”

He also revealed the one man he has to thank for being a rugby league player: Brian McDermott.

The former Leeds coach brought LMS through at Harlequins and had a very frank conversation with him early in his career:

“He had a major part in my career, I didn’t know if I wanted to be a rugby player, he took me aside and we had some home truths and he told me if I did want to play I needed to get fitter, and do this and that.

“He sorted me out. Then the decision to leave was a hard one because I had my mates and my family around me but I wanted to win things and Saints was a club where I could do that.”

Reflecting on his big move to St Helens which has since defined his career, he said:

“I came here on a wet night in 2011 and my wife looked at me as if to say ‘where have you brought me?’ Back then we were probably thinking we’d only be here a couple of years so to have 350 appearances for this club.

“It was one of them where I could have been an electrician, a plumber or something being from down south but I have managed to last this long in rugby league.

“It is a fantastic achievement.”

In terms of how he has changed as a player, he said:

“I was probably a lot dumber always running at the biggest one, running at faces not spaces and I think I still have my speed.”