Brian McDermott praises Harlequins players

McDermott will be Leeds Rhinos assistant coach in 2011

Departing Harlequins coach Brian McDermott has praised his players among the "uncertainty" over their futures.

Leeds-bound McDermott is leaving at the end of the season and told BBC London 94.9 the squad's future is unclear.

"The players are in an area of uncertainty, I'm not going to say any more than that," said McDermott.

"For them to go out there and still put their bodies in a position where they know it's going to hurt, I've got to tip my hat to them."

The side have one game remaining in Super League XV, when they take on Warrington at the Twickenham Stoop in round 27.

McDermott said: "I've got to get the players back up again, to invest another whole heap of effort and desire and work-rate - to go out and play against a very important team in Warrington."

Harlequins will finish the season in their lowest position since changing their name from London Broncos.

"There's an air of uncertainty hanging about the club and they don't know what's happening next year," continued McDermott.

"I haven't got a clue [when issues over the future may be resolved]. Those decisions are not for me, and the people that are making those decisions hopefully they make the correct ones and the ones for the good of the game."

The full interview can be heard on BBC's London rugby league podcast, linked on the right hand side of this page.