Huddersfield’s Darnell McIntosh hopes to smash Leeds’ ‘superiority complex’
DARNELL McIntosh would love nothing more than shattering Leeds’ ‘superiority complex’ and increasing their relegation worries.
The Huddersfield starlet is born and bred in the West Yorkshire town and has had enough of the area being looked down upon by their big city neighbours.
Whether it is rugby league or football, Huddersfield is always regarded as a little kid compared to the big boys from further down the M62.
Now is the time for the little kids to bite back, shoving the Rhinos closer to the Championship and easing the Giants’ nerves in the process.
“It’s that big brother thing,” said full-back McIntosh, 22. “They’re a big city at the end of the day and we’re still a town.
“Leeds feel like they’re almost superior to us, on and off the field. It’s the same in football with Huddersfield Town and Leeds United. That’s part of the reason the fans really get behind us.
“I’ve played in quite a few Huddersfield v Leeds games and this is a massive one, especially with the way we’ve both gone.
“The result is all we’re bothered about, though. You’ve got to put your personal feelings to one side as whoever loses would be really hurt by it.”
Huddersfield and Leeds have been involved in big games at the other end of the table, notably the 2015 clash when Ryan Hall’s last gasp try sent the League Leaders’ Shield and the helicopter carrying it Leeds’ way.
McIntosh was not involved with the Giants’ set up then but he admitted that mad moment had him going, ‘Wow.’
And four years on, it could still be a motivation for some of Simon Woolford’s men.
McIntosh added: “I wasn’t a massive rugby fan growing up and I didn’t watch it much but I watched that. Even though I wasn’t part of it, I remember that moment.
“Quite a few of the team have put it in the past but as the game gets closer, it’s bound to be brought up a bit.
“There’s a bit of payback to be done in this game and winning would see us away from the bottom three.”
