Jamie Peacock tonight

Quote: tvoc "So are you suggesting Brian McDermott makes a better assistant coach than head coach? '"

Only your anti-McDermott agenda would lead you to that conclusion. What I said was quite clear.

Brian McDermott was an excellent assistant coach with his contribution to Tony Smith's success in gaining promotion at Huddersfield and when he came with Smith to Leeds he played a big part in our important Championship success in 2004, the WCC in 2005 and a Grand Final appearance in 2005. Smith was named super league coach of the year in 2005 which also must reflect well on McDermott's contribution.

Quote: tvoc "Smith arrived with very little (bar the use of a shiny stadium) to work with and had to start to rebuild the club from the basement up and a year outside the top flight was an integral part of that journey - one the RFL had denied the lamentable Huddersfield in successive years of propping up the rest. '"

Smith was the coach when Hudderfield were relegated and I believe he still holds the record for a coach managing to keep his job after 13 consecutive defeats. As I said earlier McDermott joined Smith and assisted in gaining promotion.

When McDermott left Leeds for London in July 2006 Leeds form dropped off noticably with, I think, 4 defeats on the trott and a disappointing end to the season being knocked out in the prelim playoffs. No coincidence IMO.

Quote: tvoc "What had Huddersfield, Leeds and Warrington won of late before Tony Smith took control at those three perennial under-achievers?

What did Brian McDermott achieve in London before he took control of a set of Champion players at Leeds? '"

You choose to allow Smith three coaching positions as proof of achievement (two of which crucially he had McDermott as assistant coach) and ignore his poor record with Japan and England and his failure to win a Championship so far at Warrington in five attempts? Whereas McDermott achieved Championship success and Cup Final appearances and a WCC win in his first two years.

McDermott had a difficult time in London as did Smith in his first year at Huddersfield. Most successful people have experienced a lack of success or even some failure in their careers before they earn their success. Indeed this can make them stronger. It must be wonderful for you to have never needed this experience in your own perfect and successful career tvoc.

However McDermott's lack of resources in London cannot be compared fairly with free spending Warrington. But fairness is not your stock in trade when pursuing one of your agendas is it?

Despite his overall lack of success in London McDermott did show his coaching skills as he got them into 4th position in June 2009 with good wins against both Leeds and Warrington. In the final part of this season they dropped down the table but this was I am sure dure to the lack of strength in depth.

McDermott also achieved some success in London in developing young players like McCarthy-Scarsbrook and our own BJB

Now you also made a point of saying McDermott took over a set of Champion players. Did we win the Championship in 2010? I must have missed that!

McDermott in fact took over an ex-champions side with many of the key players past their peak who had performed well below par under the previous coach in 2010. A season which was less succesfull than the 2013 season - which you have been deriding. He took over key players that were on the long term injured list with others badly out of form. Yet he managed to turn the season around and gain an historic Championship victory from 5th place. To repeat this in his second season shows both his metal and his coaching skills.

McDermott has not had the advantage of many top star signings either

Quote: tvoc "He turned Huddersfield around and set them on the path.

Look at where they were before he arrived and look at where they were when he left.

Good coaches tend to leave clubs in a better state than that in which they found them - Smith's legacy is secured at two clubs and it's difficult to see how he won't repeat with his current club. '"

As I have shown you Smith's legacy at two clubs in in part also McDermott's legacy too. Is it five seasons at Warrington without winning a Championship despite heavy recuitment? Whereas McDermott has won 2 Championships in 3 years with key players older and slower than in the Smith era.

I rate Smith as a good coach and I like the way he gets his teams to play. But you should not devalue McDermott's achievements at both Huddersfield and Leeds while assistant coach nor should you underrate his achiements as head coach at Leeds. Make no mistake he is also a very good coach.