McDermott joins Huddersfield staff

Brian McDermott, the former Great Britain forward, has announced his retirement as a player and has taken up a position with the coaching staff of the newly-promoted Huddersfield Giants.

McDermott, who toured with Great Britain in 1996 and played in all three matches in the 1998 Super League Test series against Australia, has called time on a 10-year career with Bradford Bulls, for whom he made 251 appearances.

The 32-year-old's last match was October's Super League Grand Final defeat by St Helens and his retirement leaves the Bulls' captain, Robbie Paul, as their longest-serving player.

"Moving away from Bradford is a massive wrench," he said. "But I made a decision at the start of 2002 that it would be my last season as a player due to the wear and tear on my body. At a push, I could probably have had one more season in Super League but it was getting to the stage where my mind wanted to do things that my body couldn't."

McDermott, a former Royal Marine boxing champion, has signed a 12-month contract with neighbouring Huddersfield, where he will be responsible for conditioning.

The Giants coach, Tony Smith, said: "It's a major, major appointment. He will help us out a lot with his experience, both of the game and of the physical side. He is well equipped in the physical conditioning side of the game and the players here are excited about him coming to the club."

Shaun McRae, the only man to hold the position of head coach throughout the seven seasons of Super League, will remain in charge at Hull despite the appointment of the England A coach, John Kear.

Kear, formerly head coach of Sheffield Eagles and Huddersfield, was yesterday officially unveiled as Hull's first-team coach, four days after he quit as assistant to Stuart Raper at Wigan.

McRae, who was elevated to the post of director of rugby 12 months ago, is delighted to acquire the services of the man who coached England in the 2000 World Cup but insists that he will still have the final say on coaching and selection matters.

"I think it's probably important for me to stress I'm not standing down as coach but a person of John's expertise and experience goes well beyond an assistant coach role," he said. "At the end of the day, the buck still stops here with me, I'm still coaching the team."

Hull yesterday officially made their move from their old Boulevard ground into Kingston Communication Stadium, which will host its first Super League match in March. Warrington Wolves' pre-season friendly with Leigh Centurions, postponed yesterday due to a frozen pitch at Wilderspool, has been re-arranged for Sunday.