Brian McDermott insists the day Harlequins RL start beating the Super League big-boys on a regular basis is not far away.

Quins ran league leaders St Helens mighty close on Friday night, producing a stirring fightback before slipping to a 22-12 defeat at Knowsley Road.

And McDermott reckons the disappointed silence on the coach journey home spoke volumes for the attitude of his side.

He said: “I am constantly looking to raise the bar here and I am a pretty harsh leader.

“I want us to be disappointed when we do not leave a place like St Helens with anything.

“That message has got across to the players and they really thought we would go there and win.

“We are putting together a side that is continually improving and it is the performances that I am most interested in.

“Performances are something you can build on – and we know we are heading in the right direction.”

Luke Dorn and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook grabbed tries as Quins battled back from a 16-0 deficit last weekend.

And McDermott accepted it had been a case of too little, too late.

He added: “For 55 minutes it was not great and then in the last 25 minutes I thought we could win it.

“You cannot come to St Helens and not play.

“You have to throw something at them and give them something to think about.

“Defensively we were outstanding – it is a word I am using a lot at the moment but it is the rock of our displays.

“They had wave after wave of attack but we stood firm and that gives me a real lift looking to the rest of the season.”

Quins have an off week this weekend, before returning to action when they host Celtic Crusaders on June 6.

Harlequins RL’s next three matches: Jun 6 Celtic Crusaders (h), 14 Hull KR (a), 20 Leeds (h)