BRIAN McDermott admits Leeds will still be living life under the microscope – but knew they were pulling through their sticky spell BEFORE they won last year’s Grand Final.
And spirit from the bad days can carry on and take them to becoming world champions.
The Rhinos have started the defence of their title and head to Melbourne later this month to take on NRL champions Storm in the World Club Challenge.
But anyone who thinks the Old Trafford win over Castleford is the only reason why they are over their horror 2016, when they ended up fighting relegation after anything that could go wrong did go wrong, is mistaken.
To McDermott, they were pretty much already through it whether they lifted the trophy or not and the lessons learned could take them to the very top while the focus remains on Headingley.
The boss, who had to cope with their training ground being flooded and closed for months, said: “When we were assured of second place in the league with three games to go, I knew we’d pulled through a lot of it.
“I’m not talking about convincing other people. I’m on about the health of the group and thinking, ‘When we go into 2018, can we seriously challenge for honours?’
“To make the Grand Final was a great comeback then to beat Castleford just capped it all. Now that microscope will still be on us, because we’re champions and because we’re Leeds Rhinos.
“But 2016 was all-consuming for everyone at the club and we were never really out of the woods throughout 2017. We never got to a stage, and rightly so, where people said, ‘They’ve recovered. They’re now back on track.’”
Leeds head to Elland Road to face Hull KR on Thursday before flying Down Under.
But McDermott believes facing Melbourne – who have icons Cameron Smith and Billy Slater – is enough to get the juices flowing.
He added: “Everyone says they’re one of the best teams ever. That may be the case but it just makes the challenge all the more exciting for us.”
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