McDermott concern at Rhinos form

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott has revealed he is now 'panicking' about his side's deteriorating Super League form.

The 2011 Grand Final winners lost 31-18 at home to St Helens at Headingley on Monday, a fifth defeat in seven Super League games that has sent them down to eighth in the table. The Rhinos had a similar wobble last season but recovered to make the play-offs, before eventually overcoming Saints in the Grand final. McDermott, however, is not taking anything for granted and does not want his players assuming they can turn their form around at the business end of the season. "I am panicking," he admitted. "I know everybody else is talking about what happened last year. I don't like being eighth. I want us to come top and finish league leaders. "I don't want to be messing about and waiting while this mythical back end of the year before Leeds switch on. It's a very dangerous route to go down."