4:02pm Wednesday 18th November 2009
By Simon Fitzjohn
Brian McDermott admits he has scarcely cast a glance at the recently-released 2010 Super League fixture list and insists he could not care less who Harlequins RL have first.
For the record, Quins will open the 2010 campaign with a Stoop clash with the Wakefield Wildcats on January 30, before heading to Warrington a week later.
But McDermott is refusing to be drawn on the matter.
He said: “I have seen the fixtures but to be honest they do not bother me either way.
“If you would have told me we had Wigan, Leeds and St Helens as our first three matches I would still have found a positive.
“For me the only important thing is having the squad ready for our first game on January 30 – whoever we are playing.”
Quins are a fortnight into their pre-season preparations, with the players scheduled to take 10 days off over the Christmas period and then build-up for Super League readiness with friendlies against the London Skolars and Crusaders.
And McDermott revealed the emphasis is very much on ability as well as fitness.
He added: “At the moment all the work is going into increasing the skill set.
“We know we have plenty of things to work on after last season and we are pretty organised.
“I have coaches out on those training fields with magnifying glasses looking at every minute detail, so there will be no excuse for not being ready.”
The squad, with a handful of new additions, looks set for the coming campaign.
And the Quins coach reckons he is happy with what he has got.
McDermott added: “With Matt Gafa leaving we do have the possibility of bringing in another overseas player if we wanted, but the plan is to go with Tony Clubb as centre.
“As a club we need to look to our own and build from within – the secret for success for Harlequins is the home-based players and that will be our focus.”
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