Rhinos overpowered in World Club Challenge - McDermott

Omnisports

February 21, 2016 3:07 AM

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott felt North Queensland Cowboys' physicality was a key factor in their World Club Challenge triumph.

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Brian McDermott felt his Leeds Rhinos side were overpowered as North Queensland Cowboys romped to a 38-4 victory in the World Club Challenge at Headingley.

The injury-hit and out-of-form Rhinos exceeded expectations in the first half of Sunday's game and thoroughly deserved to reach the interval on level terms.

However, the Cowboys soon seized control of proceedings in the second half with the wind at their backs, running in 34 unanswered points to ensure all three of this year's World Club Series matches resulted in comfortable wins for NRL representatives.

"We were poor in the first 10 or 15 minutes of that second half and we allowed North Queensland to be as good as they can be, which is very good," said Rhinos coach McDermott in a post-match news conference.

"I thought the physicality took its toll during the game. When the big fellas carried the ball up the field I didn’t think we matched them physically.

"We've been involved in a couple of these games in the past and we've probably been unpicked or unlocked by some really smart football or a really smart passage of play. I didn't think that was the case [this time], I just thought they applied so much pressure to us.

"Although we did a good job in defending them for the majority of the game, we just physically started to drop off. They came up with a couple of plays we couldn't get to, and it was difficult when they got a roll on.

"I would say North Queensland did a great job defensively as well."

McDermott insisted the World Club Series should continue to be played despite a second successive NRL whitewash, adding: "If the question is 'is there a point in doing it next year?' For sure, absolutely.

"That's how you learn, through getting your backside kicked. What you don't do is get your backside kicked and don't play another one of these games for five years, and then see what you're like after five years."

Both teams ended Sunday's game with 12 men. The Cowboys' James Tamou was sin-binned for slapping Keith Galloway with his left hand, while Leeds' Mitch Garbutt saw red for punching Tamou in the face in retaliation.

Garbutt was applauded off by a large number of Rhinos fans, but McDermott was less impressed and said: "There was some provocation, but not enough, I don't think.

"It was silly from Mitch. I'm sure Keith can handle being slapped."

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