Brian McDermott bemoans Leeds Rhinos' World Club Challenge thrashing
Monday 22 February 2016 10:18, UK
Leeds coach Brian McDermott was disappointed that the Rhinos let North Queensland Cowboys score 34 unanswered points in the second half of their World Club Challenge clash at Headingley.
Depleted Leeds had their moments and restored some pride for Super League as they went into the break all square at 4-4 on Sunday night. However, the Cowboys came out in the second half with all guns blazing and the Rhinos collapsed to a 38-4 defeat.
"I thought we had a huge dig in that first half but I thought North Queensland attacked a little more fluidly," McDermott told Sky Sports.
"Without some heroic defence, they could have been a try or two up. We put in such a big shift in the first half that we needed something to go our way in the first 10-15 minutes of that second half.
"It didn't, and this is a scoreline that hurts. I am not going to say that it is a scoreline that does not reflect the game because it does. To concede that many points... well, it's tough that.
"I think the physicality of their midfield carries started to take its toll in the second half. We are not a poor team but they applied so much pressure that we ended up coming up with errors - so it does reflect the game.
"I don't think they unpicked us - they did not play some stuff there that we could not defend, it was just the pressure. If you want to pin me down on what is the difference between the two competitions, I would say it was the pressure that they play under."
Both teams finished with 12 men after North Queensland's James Tamou was sin-binned for taking a swing at prop Keith Galloway, and Leeds had Mitch Garbutt sent off for a more blatant punch on Tamou.
"It was silly from Mitch," added McDermott.
"There was some provocation and he was defending his team-mate but it was a silly thing to do from him and it was unlike him."
Watch Leeds Rhinos in Super League action away to Catalans Dragons on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 4.55pm.
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