McDermott: We are a team again

Leeds coach Brian McDermott says his side showed real character and determination to snatch a result late against Hull FC.

The hosts were leading up until the 75th minute of the match before Kallum Watkins crashed over to clinch victory for the Rhinos at the KCOM Stadium.

“We have been growing for a while and getting better for a while,” McDermott told Sky Sports.

“Last week was hugely disappointing for the final 10 minutes but previous to that was great.

“If we’d beat Hull tonight and Hull hadn’t been good I’m not sure it would have done us as much good as we’d like at this stage of the season.

“What we have just done there is get over a very good team. Lee Radford is doing a great job.

“We threw some ammunition at them out on their try line and they kept us out. It weren’t just that we were clueless.

“We have got over a good team, they didn’t go away. We had a bit of momentum to start with, they came back at us.

“It is the first time this year I am looking at it thinking we have got a team. We are going to continue with this.

“We have a big challenge against Wigan next week, but for the first time this year my gut tells me we have got a team.

“We don’t think the world has ended when we go through some dark periods.

“It sounds easy – you throw everything out of it when you hit bottom of the league and question how the hell that has happened.

“You do that many interviews about being bottom of the league. To stay composed about what it is you have to focus on each week takes some strength.

“I am thrilled for the players, I thought they worked their absolute rocks off tonight and we are growing.

The Leeds head coach was also happy with the work of hooker Jamie Segeyaro, who made his debut after signing last week.

“He’s settled in well, I think everyone is expecting him to run here, there and everywhere and that’ll come.

“He serviced the ruck really well and had an influence by all means.”