Rugby League News: Gould Endorses McDermott for Rabbitohs Head Coaching Role
Phil Gould, the General Manager of the Canterbury Bulldogs, has expressed his belief that former Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott could be the perfect fit for the head coaching role at South Sydney Rabbitohs. Gould, who recently met with McDermott for an in-depth discussion, was left impressed by the experienced coach and believes he could help “drive culture” at the NRL club.
Gould’s endorsement comes after he famously tipped the Penrith Panthers would be able to “declare at half-time” ahead of their 2023 World Club Challenge game against St Helens, only to see the Panthers lose, forcing Gould to eat humble pie and change his attitude towards Super League.
“He was brilliant,” Gould said of his meeting with McDermott. “He reached out to me wanting to talk footy, and I was very impressed with him. His thoughts on football, he has done a lot, he has achieved a lot … he’s had success coaching in the Super League.”
McDermott’s coaching career has spanned various roles, including head coach positions at Harlequins, Leeds Rhinos, and Featherstone Rovers. During his time at Leeds, he led the team to four Super League titles and two Challenge Cups before being sacked in 2018. He later took over as head coach of the Toronto Wolfpack, guiding them to promotion before the club’s financial troubles led to its departure from Super League in 2020.
Gould’s endorsement of McDermott as a potential candidate for the South Sydney Rabbitohs head coaching role comes after the club parted ways with Jason Demetriou. With Gould’s high praise and the support of rugby league great Andrew Johns, McDermott could be a strong contender for the job as he looks to continue his coaching journey in the NRL.
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