Quote ="Andy Gilder"Something I seem to remember McDermott commenting publicly on a few years ago, about players being more interested in their lifestyle than their game.
These are young men, often not the brightest, who are given an opportunity for money and status that they wouldn't have a hope of earning in any other career. They need strong role models around them to set the bar for what you need to do to achieve great things, and also be encouraged not to think they've "made it" just because they're a first team rugby player at a big SL club.
You do wonder where those models are within the current Leeds squad, certainly once the likes of JJB and McGuire hang up their boots.
I'd hope those first years in the U-16s weren't on any kind of official club duty. If they were, someone needs to have a fairly strong word.'"
The Hardaker/Minchella incident last year which took place just a few days before the season opener rang alarm bells for me. Not just the obvious issue of potentially having to sack Hardaker but that those two as well as Handley, Robbie Ward, Mulhern and one other (Walters was it?) were in that situation at all with the season opener just days away. Not saying that they should live like nuns 24/7 but 5/6 days before the season starts? Just so poor.
I think I recall another McDermott interview when going on about players that he and the club look at the person as a whole and not just what they can do on the pitch. Whilst not saying as such it did come over that they prefer family guys, knowing they'll be more likely to spend their Saturday nights in with the wife and kids and not out in some nightclub having a drink. Think Hardaker and Delaney are really the few ones who don't have kids who have been established first squad members and old enough to realistically started a family.
