Hull FC remains coachless heading into tonight’s game against Warrington Wolves despite plenty of names being linked, however, it’s now being reported that one of those men has turned the club down.
That man is former Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott with Total RL reporting that McDermott has turned down Hull FC.
The 54-year-old is currently serving as an assistant coach in the NRL but that hasn’t stopped plenty of rumours linking him with the vacant job at the MKM Stadium.
Sky Sports’ Jenna Brooks was among those to first make that link when she reported live on Sky Sports’ The Verdict that McDermott was one of two names that she had heard suggested and linked to Hull FC.
Brooks revealed Lee Briers was one name before stating: “The other name I’m hearing is your former head coach at Toronto Wolfpack, Brian McDermott.”
Brian McDermott “unlikely” to take Hull FC job
Credit: SWpix
In a U-turn, Brooks has now reported that McDermott is “very happy” down under where he works at Newcastle Knights.
Once again speaking on Sky Sports, this time ahead of last night’s repeat of the 2023 Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons, Brooks clarified the situation.
She explained that “lots of names” had been “thrown up” before quantifying McDermott’s position.
“One of them thrown up is Brian McDermott but that seems unlikely,” Brooks revealed in a change from just two weeks prior.
She confirmed: “He’s very happy in the NRL.”
With seemingly no hope of McDermott now taking the job at Hull FC, it begs the question of who will take the role and how much longer that will take.
Whilst the hiring process can take plenty of time, the lack of solid links will be concerning to Hull FC fans with it instead being a case of several names but all just tenuous links.
Who could become Hull FC head coach?
After the failed approach for Paul Rowley and the apparent failure to capture McDermott, there hasn’t been an apparent front-runner for the job with names simply being spitballed it would appear.
Sky Sports were the latest to name the new front-runners for the role with Jon Wilkin revealing the names this time, once again on The Verdict.
The Hull-born pundit said: “Dean Young is a young coach over in the NRL, Chad Randall, young coach in the NRL, they’re two names as chances.
“But we’ve been told that they’re looking for an English, British coach, and when you’re looking at that, maybe Lee Briers, maybe Danny McGuire.”
Lee Briers has transformed Brisbane’s attack whilst Danny McGuire is serving his apprenticeship at Castleford Tigers after having also been assistant at Hull KR.
As for Chad Randall, he’s the assistant coach at Canterbury Bulldogs with the name likely being familiar to Super League fans given that he played for London Broncos from 2006 to 2013.
