Struggling Leeds host Catalans Dragons tonight with tension increasing at Headingley after last week’s biggest-ever Super League defeat, a humiliating 66-10 loss at derby rivals Castleford Tigers. After receiving a record number of emails on that subject, Hetherington was prompted to send out his own generic email to supporters on the club database. It detailed how the next four fixtures will be crucial as he seeks to be in a “much better position to make an accurate judgement on the performance of all our players, coaching staff and senior management including myself”. Although Hetherington did not make alterations last year when Leeds diced with relegation, he added he is “not stubborn enough to believe no change is always the best option”. That suggests there could be changes on the football side of the Rhinos operation with McDermott’s own position, it seems, under threat for the first time since arriving in 2010. He, of course, is the club’s most successful coach having won three Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge while it was less than 18 months ago he led them to an historic treble. But they endured a torrid campaign last term, finishing ninth and being forced into the ignominy of the Qualifiers, while they have suffered two defeats in their opening four fixtures this time. McDermott accepts, then, this evening’s fixture is significant but only in plotting their course back towards the top of Super League and he maintains he is “cool” with Hetherington’s stance. “Yes, it is a big game and the next three or four in particular are big,” said the 46-year-old. “This isn’t about anybody making ugly decisions or big decisions after the next four games. “But we want to be in a position in the league where we’re challenging at the top. And that’s the big thing for us. “Something needed to be said after such an ugly day (Castleford). That was more of a club letter – I’m keen to stress that. “Gary rang me up and cleared that letter with me; it wasn’t a case of Gary Hetherington now makes a decision. “That was a club letter really and Gary signs that one off. “The decision that we make or any decisions that will be made will be made as a group and there’s no shirking away that after last Thursday we need to stand up, be counted and bear the brunt of it. I’m cool with what he said in that. I’ve no drama with anything that he said.” McDermott was asked if he thought some people may see Hetherington’s comments as an “ultimatum” and, if so, whether they would be reading too much into that. “I don’t know,” he replied. “There’s some lines in there where you might think ‘what does that mean?’ or ‘does that mean he’s only got four games?’ “I think what Gary – the club – is saying and what we’re saying is that we are not just going to change after just one game. “There’s some obvious questions that will be asked and we’re not just going to do it because we had a really bad day at the office. “Days like those at Castleford are never just down to one thing –that the players have been bad or the coach has got it wrong. “Usually it’s a combination of a few things but the biggest factor for me was Castleford were just absolutely white-hot. “Now, if they’re going to be white-hot and we’re off – missing a few pack members, Carl Ablett banned, Rob Burrow being ill (as was the case) if that means we are going to lose it probably should have been a 28-10 scoreline or something like that. “The real ugly part is that we shouldn’t be conceding 66 points – and that needs to be addressed, they’re the questions that have to be asked. “It has been a really long, tough week – the footage has not been good to look at – but there’s been lots of signs that they will respond. They’ve never shirked that responsibility, not tried to hide or not shoulder some of the responsibility.” In their favour, three of Leeds’ next four fixtures are at home with Wakefield Trinity arriving next Friday and then, a fortnight after that, champions Wigan Warriors with a trip to Huddersfield Giants in between. Furthermore, scrum-half Burrow and second-row Ablett will return tonight with Tom Briscoe, dropped against Castleford, also set to be recalled. Admittedly, Rhinos are still without five first-choice forwards but McDermott is confident his side will be ready for an in-form Catalans who they have not beaten since 2015. The French club have beaten last season’s Grand Finalists Warrington Wolves, Challenge Cup holders Hull FC and drawn with Widnes Vikings so far. “They have had a good run and a good run at Headingley the last couple of seasons, too,” he said. “They’re a strong team. They have a big aggressive pack and some outside backs who know how to play so we’ll be expecting a good version of them.”