Port Macquarie Sharks still have ambitions of putting Brian McDermott on a plane to the Hastings.
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That was until Canadian second-division club Toronto Wolfpack sacked their coach and offered McDermott the job.
It now means the Sharks have had to come up with a Plan B.
Club secretary Jamie Dowse is comfortable that Plan B can still happen after remaining in regular contact with McDermott.
While McDermott will take the reins at Toronto, Dowse remained confident he would still head downunder and the club and the group could both still benefit.
“He’s still keen on coming to Port Macquarie to have a look around and whether that’s for a week, two weeks or a month we’d be keen to have him,” he said.
“Having Brian here would have been good for people to squeeze as much knowledge out of him coaching-wise as possible.”
They can still do that, depending on what McDermott’s coaching calendar looks like.
The 48-year-old won four grand finals, two Challenge Cups, a League Leaders' Shield and a World Club Challenge in eight years at Elland Road.
While the Sharks are disappointed their bold plan did not come to fruition, Dowse conceded they also realised there was a chance it may not have come off.
“Brian always communicated to us that it was a possibility and that’s the case now,” Dowse said.
“He’s got a good gig and he’s too good of an identity not to be involved in rugby league.”
Dowse said McDermott’s decision wouldn’t have a negative effect on how they prepared for their premiership defence.
“We were looking forward to it, but it won’t impact on our club and how we start pre-season or anything,” he said.
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