McDermott ready for difference of the Cup

Leeds coach Brian McDermott has acknowledged that the Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens on Friday evening throws up different challenges to a normal Super League game.

The Rhinos coach knows that knock-out rugby often produces a faster, more intense sort of game, and that his team must be ready for it.

“The Challenge Cup games have very little bearing on what you normally do week in, week out in Super League,” he said.

“The game will look different and it will be played at a different tempo, the ball will be in play for longer minutes than normal.

“There is a lot of pressure this week and it almost suits the way Saints are at the moment.

“They have a lot of strike but they are also able to grind out a win when they’re not particularly good.

“I think you can put us in that category for a number of weeks as well where we haven’t played that good but we’ve got the win but Saints are the masters of that this year.

“They find a way of winning and that’s an element that you’d like to have as a coach.

“You can’t really coach that either. There’s a bit of hunger and desire in there. I think they’re a very dangerous team.”