91Èȱ¬

Keep battling away to spread the gospel George, always nice to read decent rugby league stories on the 91Èȱ¬.

It would be a major surprise if Quins turned Huddersfield over this weekend, but the way Super League's shaping up this season, anything can happen!

It seems that the few Quins fans are getting a bit restless regarding McDermott, but the fact is, who could they get that would do any better? Hanley?

" but the fact is, who could they get that would do any better?"

If Noble can go to the Welsh, then anything can happen (just so long as they keep their mitts off our Maguire!)

Quins do seem to be trying absolutely everything to get those crowds up. If you go to their Harlequins Rugby League facebook page they are even offering free tickets to anyone who signs up as a fan. They need to increase awareness in London, which with so many sports is tricky, but they are definitely trying. People in London just need to experience the sport and they will be hooked...

Nice interview with Dorny. However, I think it was more wishful thinking than rumour that Mac had resigned.

Its very easy to say McD's the best man for the job, but he hasn't done anything to prove that. The players that were looking international class last year (Clubby, Louie) have looked poor this year. Other good SL players (Melling, Gafa) have also gone backwards and/or been kicked out by McD. The players he's brought in have been average at best, poor at worst (Williamson, Golden, Wilkes etc.). He got shot of a hard working consistent Mbu for no apparent reason.

Ok Purdo and Dorn might improve the side but they hardly equal an injury crisis!! Temata's a bigger miss than Dorn. Come on George, I know RLs a small world and you dont want to upset anyone but get off the fence.

@informed_opinion...the marketing folks are trying their best but its hard to sell a losing team playing in such an unimaginitive way

@George...on what basis is BMcD the best man for the job ? We've finished 3 places off bottom in each full season he's been here. Towards the end of last season it didn't really look like anyone wanted to play for him. Not sure what was going on behind the scenes but all was clearly not well. I think the fans all understand we have limited resouces but he has recruited an uninspired and unbalanced squad. He has a habit of ostracising players who don't see things his way which we can't afford in a thin squad. Not to mention the serious injuries we seem to pick up in training.

I buy Mac's argument, shared by other coaches and analysts of the game, that the harsh winter conditions stopped teams being prepared for the season. Most in the know were saying "give it 10 games". Are we naive enough as fans to think that good form just happens? Super League hasn't hit the heights this season yet. And it's not like Quins are out of touch with the clubs around them. Just a thought, but how about actually backing your club, instead of clanging the chimes of doom so damn early?

Its not just about this season. Can you explain what happened last season ? Something went seriously wrong and BMcD himself admitted he was clueless. Seems it didn't get fixed before the start of this one either.

George,
There is no moention of how well salford came back into the game and took their chances in this blog, there are two teams on the pitch you know and 2nd half salford were the better team!!!

Yes I would get rid of him, he's failing. Its not just this season, its the whole of the second half of last year too. I have been to every home game of his tenure and this is a team that's not playing for the coach if ever Ive seen it. His recruitment is terrible. You call him passionate and great! But Id call him hot-headed and poor.

Who would I replace him with? Well, right now, anyone. But what about Warren Jowitt? Ellery Hanley? Ian Millward? Rohan Smith?.

On a more positive note I love the new away kit!

Crusaders had no pre season games and they seem to be playing pretty well. Won a few matches and competitive in defeat. It seems there must be something wrong in the dressing room.

"People in London just need to experience the sport and they will be hooked..."

I've been 5 times now in the Summer to the Stoop and seen one amazing game against Leeds, where Quins won. The rest were losses and the last time was an appaling game against Bradford last year. The whole team looked awful and the Rugby from Quins was really poor. I dont mind watching league at all when it is played well but Quins RL are doing their best to persuade me that its not worth going to see them

In terms of promoting the game in London do you think Quins RL would benefit from one or two marquee signings? By that I mean high profile Rugby Union players (ideally from Quins RU) much in the same mould as Crusaders have done with Gareth Thomas and rumored to be considering with Gavin Henson. It strikes me with such a massive potential fan base I very much doubt they are doing all they can to draw fans into the watch. They need to be doing more to promote the sport to others outside of their immediate cachment and not only invest in cultivating existing relationships but building new ones.

Mac has does nothing other than pretend he's some deep thinking coach. You are judged by results and performances and both are woeful. Losing at home to Salford should have triggered the trap door never mind talk of the coach walking away.
George, you ask what is the alternative, I will tell you, an Aussie coach, someone like Tony Currie the man who delivered success in 96 and 97 and with it the crowds (chicken and egg?). London need the right mix of Aussies, good players from the north and young local talent. We currently only have the latter.
Yes Mac maybe a good guy but George that shouldn't influence a journalist, go down to the Stoop and see how poor the team is. Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax and Barrow would all take care of them at the moment.Looks like its yet another season of nothingness down in west London.

I feel Brian McDermott should have quit as Manager after the dismill display against Salford last weekend.. McDermott has had his chance at the helm with Quinns for over 2yrs. I refer to Motely Crue song named "Same Old Situation" ie Position - bottom 4, experience as head coach before he came to quinns - none, known international players (Northern and Southern hemisphere) none. The manager needs to drop a league and get more experience under his belt. I dont care if the Chairman brings in a Ozzy/Kiwi manager but please do it soon as the fans deserve better!! Last week Hull FC parted company with Phil Brown after 2 years of poor results, and our Chairman should do the same..........

You can't sell League in London with a losing team.

You need a winning team playing good footie.

Quins haven't spent all their salary cap since the days of Edwards & Offiah. That was their peak. The operation in run on a shoe string these days, and the players & staff do well to even compete. But that won't get them anywhere.

Watch the NRL. That is League. That is the mecca.

Interesting article George, it is a bit chicken and egg Im afraid. Whilst I feel sorry for Mac, he has made some poor decisions I'm afraid. We have won 1 of the last 16 / 17 games, we have recruited poorly (Esders / Golden / James etc are not Super League standard) and people are not prepared to pay to watch a side get rinsed every week.

Serious injuries have occured to key players but these happened in pre-season with players slipping on ice....not smart!!!

Whilst I agree that we miss Purdo and Dorny and haven't got Ellis on the park yet they won't make that much difference. Clubby, Randall and Louie look out of sorts, we don't know what Chris Mellings best position is (GB full back 3 years ago????!!!!) and our best player is a loan academy from Leeds????

This is a very frustrating time for Quins, the Marketing people are working so hard but they need some help. A new coach, Hanley or a young Aussie may do the trick. Nathan Brown has turned a squad at Huddersfield that is OK on paper into a well drilled skillful unit in attack and defence. He had no experience to speak of but the Huddersfield board backed him, same with Morgan at HKR.

A successful team equals people through the turnstiles equals revenue equals quiet northerners saying we should be stripped of our licence. Things need to change and fast..........

Should maybe take a punt on Harrison at Batley. Put together a competitive team who improve ten fold when he is in the dressing room. Quins have a core of good players, they seem to need some motivation. Or as mentioned above, Hanley. Did an amazing job at Doncaster with no budget whatsoever.

Fair points George, but the recruitment of James and Esders has been a disaster. Time (and patience) is running out at Quins - The Legend Ellery could just be the injection of enthusiasm that we need, I bet he could still do it on the park if he wanted to!!!!

I really fear that a poor season will see the demise of the London team of this great game!!!

Just off to the game now and I expect that Huddersfield will walk it by at least 30.....I hope not!!!

All the porr signings being sighted are forwards. When london did well at the beginning of super league, they hads an awesome pack, and in the last few years the pack has been big and hardworking. Perhaps a couple of big forwards to provide some momentum, give orr some more to work with.

I was there to see Quins massacred at Warrington and Leeds. They were awful in the second half of those two games.

When anyone sacks a coach in any sport, the first thing the media and pundits look for is an excuse to say they haven't been given time and should be judged on their record. Now we have a pundit who is ignoring both.

George, you are not the only one who has regular conversations with people within the club. And you should also consider that when talking to journalists, players are not going to criticise the coach.

I have an impression that McDermott runs rigorous, aerobic centric training sessions. This explains why we have one of the smallest teams in SL. I don't know enough details to say whether this also explains why we have so many injuries, constantly, but questions have to be answered.

One or two of the signings have not worked out. Criticism of McDermott's recruitment policy is justified. Matt James could not hack it. Andy Ellis is not fit and has not appeared. When you have a budget such as Quins' that's worth pointing out.

Finally, as an intelligent person, I am sick of the same cliched excuses from McDermott after each of these defeats. I get a text message from the club's official update service every Monday which says "Brian Mc feels Quins will rise up the table when key players return from injury" or "Warrington take full advantage of Quins' injury crisis in 58 point rout". If you don't believe me, go to the Quins official web site and read how the match reports are phrased.

Part of the problem for Quins/Broncos has been the lack of a steady stadium in which to play. Then when they got a steady stadium, they ended up having to rebrand themselves, thing themselves to the Harlequins name. I know a few people who went to Broncos games but they'd never go to the Stoop to support Quins RL because they support another RU team. It's the new hinderance. And there has alwas been a hinderance.