Hill back to boost Quins

11:07am Friday 2nd May 2008

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Coach Brian McDermott is confident that the return from injury of influential Australian stand-off Scott Hill is just the boost his Harlequins side need as they look to re-establish their play-off credentials.

Hill, missing since suffering nerve damage in his arm in the Easter Monday defeat at Bradford, returned to the line-up in Saturday's frustrating 24-20 loss at Wakefield.

And McDermott is insistent that having the canny former Melbourne Storm star back in the ranks will boost the stuttering Londoners.

McDermott said: "You see a difference to our makeup when he is on the field.

"Scott makes a difference to how we attack and it is a real benefit having him there.

"When he is not there we have to look at other ways of playing and then we're relying on other people stepping up."

Hill played a starring role as Quins produced a devastating first-half display at Belle Vue which saw them enter the break 20-6 ahead.

Despite shipping an early try, Harlequins struck back with scores from Danny Orr, Matt Gafa, Michael Worrincy and Rikki Sheriffe as they looked set to do the double over their Yorkshire hosts.

But a woeful second-half display saw the London club concede three tries and fall to a narrow 24-20 defeat.

McDermott was scathing about their efforts.

He added: "I want to know why that happened and I need to know why.

"We scored some great tries and the boys really looked like they were enjoying playing with each other, but we just didn't seem to front up in defence.

"When they stepped up in the second half we couldn't hold them off.

"I am not happy with that and it will be something we look at and work on in training this week."