Brian McDermott is hoping for a rub of the green from Super League referees as his side look to battle on on two fronts.

Last weekend’s 25-8 league win over Hull FC at Murrayfield and a Sunday Challenge Cup Fifth Round clash with St Helens have breathed new life into the Londoners’ campaign.

But with recent statistics showing that Quins have received by far the least amount of penalties of all the Super League teams (54 to St Helens 99 after 11 rounds), McDermott expects a change in fortunes.

He said: “I do not normally like talking about referees or decisions but we seem to be under the magnifying glass with refs at the moment.

“It keeps putting us on the back foot and even though our defence is good, if you are always having to defend eventually you will concede tries.

“We defended well in the second half and came through it against Hull but it is taking a lot out of the players.”

In the last round of the cup against Wakefield, Quins were penalised 8-1 in the second half alone, but still emerged with the victory.

Much of that is down to the free-flowing style that has seen the Stoop side score 12 tries in their last two games, something McDermott wants to continue.

He added: “In the first half against Hull it was a great performance and we scored some cracking tries.

“We cannot get carried away as it was a pretty depleted Hull side but the style of the win was good.

“We have not turned the corner yet but we are turning it and the key is for us to keep moving forward.”

Harlequins RL’s next three matches: May 9 St Helens (CC, h), 16 Castleford (H), 23 Wakefield (a)