A Great Britain international representative prop, he played his club football at Oldham, Wigan, the Leeds Rhinos (with whom he won both a Super League Championship and Challenge Cup Final), Bramley and the Widnes Vikings.

A native of Oldham, McDermott started out with his hometown club before transferring to Wigan, where he won a championship and represented Great Britain.

His early career was marked by his aggressive playing style, knocking out Paul Sironen with a high elbow during a tour match for Wigan in October 1994.

[7] After a two-match ban, McDermott made his Test debut off the bench in the opening match of the Ashes series, a victory against Australia at Wembley.

[10] McDermott joined Leeds in 1996, and made his sole England appearance in a European Championship victory over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park that autumn.

The Rhinos beat the National Rugby League champions Canterbury Bulldogs in front of 37,028 at Elland Road, a record crowd for a World Club Challenge held in Britain.