Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:43 pm  

Does Steven McNamara have a role at present with the England team, as assistant coach to Wayne Bennett?

The reason I ask is that after the Sydney Roosters vs St George-Illawarra game on Sunday (in which the Roosters won 42-6) McNamara, who is an assistant coach at the Roosters, came out on to the field and was seen talking with English Test candidates Gareth Widdop and Michael Cooper. The two players were very attentive to what McNamara was saying (which was not audible to we TV viewers).

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:20 pm  

ex England coach talks to his ex playing staff shocker!

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:26 pm  

He was telling them that he won't be joining them at hull kr next season

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:19 pm  

The fact that the former England head coach was an assistant at an NRL club speaks volumes. Happy to see the back of him.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:35 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

He was telling them that he won't be joining them at hull kr next season

Cooper is going back to Warrington. You really aren't as funny as you think you are.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:47 pm  

The fact that a former England coach has shown the humility to realise that he needed to learn from the best is a refreshing change IMO. Compare and contrast to the current English head coaches in SL who have done their time learning in the NRL. Oh hang on, none of them have. Maybe that's one reason why SL standards are so low.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:34 pm  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

The fact that a former England coach has shown the humility to realise that he needed to learn from the best is a refreshing change IMO. Compare and contrast to the current English head coaches in SL who have done their time learning in the NRL. Oh hang on, none of them have. Maybe that's one reason why SL standards are so low.

I would echo that completely. I've often said we (by we I mean English clubs) often appoint Head Coaches who haven't had a proper apprenticeship. There are a number of Head Coaches in this country who would benefit from a couple of years as an assistant in the NRL and come back far better for it.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Wed Aug 24, 2016 12:33 am  

I'd argue far too many head coaches are appointed based purely on being ex players at a particular club and haven't gained enough experience in England, never mind Australia.

If I was a CEO at a SL club, I'd be looking for the next Maguire or Robinson - i.e. up and coming assistant at an NRL side. They have shown they can make a big difference in SL. There's absolutely no reason why the next Maguire/Robinson couldn't be an English coach.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Wed Aug 24, 2016 8:47 am  

Rohan Smith at Bradford being a prime example and test of this theory. He's been an assistant all over for over a decade before coming to Bradford.

Re: Steven McNamara's current role : Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:40 am  

Joey Grima was another at London. He didn't make it but has dropped back into a No2 ish type role back in Aus.