maybe McD was choked up because he had just been told the Grand final will be his last game as coach of the Rhino's? Just putting it out there

Nah he has too much of an ego that he'd have to have it announced so thy can be all the fanfare to go with it like the departures of the players.

I'd go with Ronzy's view, but add that nobody can take away the fact that in terms of results he's the most successful coach we've ever had. I've always argued that. I do think that last year was awful and as head coach he needs to shoulder a lot of responsibility for that, but I'd say this year even without reaching the GF we've done as well as could have been expected.

I wonder how he, Tony Smith et al will be viewed in 20 or 30 years?

I would agree with this view.

As an outsider looking in, he has done very well with Leeds this year.

I've admired him as a bloke for a while. I have been at events where he was dragged up on stage, unplanned, asked difficult questions, & answered impressively & with great humility. He obviously cares deeply about the club & players. I think his man management is a great strength. I just don't think he is a top level coach.

I don't think he needs to be a top level coach as long as his backroom staff are. I think he has developed a core at Leeds and the time is now for the team to move forward. I do believe we have a great chance on Sat but it will be down to who keeps their nerve and hopefully Mcguire does not react when things go against us.

Next year is one for development and bedding in the newbies so I am not expecting much. However, I do think Mcd will put the systems in place for another successful year in 2019.

McD is simply a man who has great man management skills, you can see that with the respect he gains from the players, he just needs to keep hold of the coaching team, maybe get a better attacking and kicking coach and we will continue to win the silverware.

Correct, ATEOTD you will always have people who just cant give credit to the incumbent coach at the time, there will always be people who will come out and say that the only reason that coach B is winning is because coach A did all the groundwork, built the team etc, especially when things go wrong. McDermott / Bluey >Smith -> Powell -> Lance -> Murray -> Bell and keep going back until it suits their narrative.

The guy has taken us to multiple finals, keeping the car ticking over despite it losing some major parts for this he takes credit, some of his more banal decisions he takes flak for, this is sport.

Went to a motivational night with Jamie Peacock recently where Kev was one of the speakers. When asked who their best coach was they both said Mac. They said that a coach usually has 2/3 out of 4 things they do really well more than other areas, man management, tactics etc but McDermott is an all rounder that does well in all aspects required to be a good coach.

Arguably 2 of the greatest whove played under a few in their time, both say McDermott, he must be doing something right.

Agree entirely. Most clubs have readily identifiable ex-players as supports. Interestingly the 3 I can think of who don't appear to have are Leeds, Hull & Wigan. I would put all 3 coaches in a similar mould - good at man-management & motivation, but poor at coaching an attacking style with a squad of excellent players.

I agree with this, but IMO the main reason is that all 3 of the coaches of these clubs are ex forwards so coaching attacking play is never going to be their forte.

His interview with Mark Wilson is very good but he does contradict himself wrt players.

Add fatty Cunningham to the list of ex-front rowers who destroyed a clubs attacking prowess.