McDermott wants Hull to see ‘real Harlequins’

Brian McDermott is hoping that Hull FC will see the “real Harlequins” when the two teams clash at the Magic Weekend this Saturday.

Quins were beaten 28-4 when the sides met at the KC Stadium back in February, leaving McDermott less than impressed, but his side has shown definite signs of improvement in recent weeks having started to emerge from a crippling injury crisis.

Still, he expects Richard Agar’s Hull FC to provide a formidable challenge at Murrayfield on Saturday May 1 (3.00).

Brian McDermott said: “They’ve had a couple of blips recently, bet generally they’ve been pretty consistent.

“They have some overseas signings there who have done a really good job for them. We’ve already played them at Hull but didn’t perform well at all.

“We want to make sure that now we’ve got some players coming back in that they see the real Harlequins.”

Former Bradford and Great Britain front rower McDermott is a firm supporter of the Murrayfield Magic weekend, and says he would have loved the event to have been held during his playing career.

“It’s cracking value for money, and I’m sure I would have enjoyed it as a player,” he said.

“I think it’s good. There is a good level of innovation in it.

“I don’t think there is any other sport that would move all of its fixtures to the same venue, and I don’t think there will be a coach or group of players that doesn’t enjoy the Magic weekend.

“It’s hard to get to a final in sport, but this weekend has the feeling of a final, of a big event. There are lots and lots of spectators there, and it’s also a timely break and a different take on the normal week-in, week-out part of our job, from the players’ point of view.”