Titans assistant coach Brian McDermott, Rabbitohs great Sam Burgess and former Eels mentor Brad Arthur are expected to be among the candidates interviewed for the vacant England job.
England’s World Cup coach is set to be announced by the end of April after the Rugby Football League announced a panel to recommend a replacement for Shaun Wane, who stood down in January.
RLF Chair Nigel Wood confirmed that coaches from the NRL as well as Super League were in contention, with McDermott believed to be a leading contender along with Burgess and Arthur, who is in charge of Leeds.
Sam Burgess with Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo during last year’s Ashes Series.
©SWPix
Willie Peters, who last year led Hull KR to the Super League premiership, Challenge Cup glory and League Leaders Shield before disposing of NRL champions Brisbane in February’s World Club Challenge, was favourite for the England job.
The newly appointed PNG Chiefs coach, who was on the Kangaroos coaching staff during last year’s Ashes Series, confirmed his interest in the England job but said he would no longer be pursuing the role.
“That job is off the table now,” Peters told The Agenda Setters: Rugby League on Channel 7 and 7 Plus, who will broadcast all 51 Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair matches at Rugby League World Cup 2026.
“It would have been awesome to coach England. It was something I really wanted to do, but that job needs two-to-three years attention from that coach.”
Arthur’s availability may also be uncertain as he has been linked with the Manly job following the axing of Anthony Seibold, but Rowley has reaffirmed his ambition to coach England.
McDermott, who joined the Titans this season from the Knights, is highly regarded in both hemispheres after steering Leeds to four Super League titles, as well as Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge victories.
He oversaw Toronto Wolfpack’s promotion to Super League in 2019, working alongside former Great Britain coach Brian Noble, who coached him at Bradford Bulls.
Brian McDermott (right) and Brian Noble took Toronto Wolfpack to Super League in 2020.
©SWPIX
Among his star recruits at Toronto was Sonny Bill Williams, who played five matches before the Wolfpack were forced to withdraw from Super League due to the outbreak of COVID.
The former England and Great Britain Test prop, who played 250 Super League matches for Bradford, coached USA at the 2017 World Cup and was involved with Fiji at RLWC2021.
Burgess, who coaches Warrington, has been endorsed for the job by South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett, who coached the premiership winning forward during his 26-Test career with England and Great Britain.
The former Rabbitohs premiership winning forward has been coy about his interest in the job but St Helens mentor Paul Rowley reaffirmed his ambition to coach England after the withdrawal of Peters.
Former Catalans coach Steve McNamara, who moved to Australia after coaching England at RLWC2013 and has had stints with Sydney Roosters and the Warriors, could be another option.
Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook, who guided Papua New Guinea to victory in the 2023 Pacific Bowl and took St Helens to the Super League premiership in 2019, has also been mentioned as a candidate for the England job.
The role will be part-time and initially just to cover the World Cup, potentially suiting a coach in the NRL.
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With England facing Tonga and France in Perth on October 17 and October 24 before travelling to Wollongong to take on Papua New Guinea on October 30, Wood said a decision would be made in the next few weeks.
“We are entering a crucial time as we bid to secure the right person to lead England’s men’s team into the upcoming World Cup,” Wood said.
“It is an exciting period for the sport, especially given how our athletes have already made such excellent starts to the new Super League season.
“The autumn’s Ashes series whetted the appetite for international rugby league and everyone here is looking forward to the prospect of heading to Australia at the end of this campaign for the 17th edition of the World Cup.
“We have had applications and enquiries from a wide-range of world-class coaches, from both here and in the NRL.
“With the aid of our newly assembled panel, we will now conduct interviews to narrow down our short-list in readiness to find the ideal candidate.”
The panel will consist of former England captain Kevin Sinfield CBE, who won the 2012 Golden Boot as the world’s best player, new RFL Non-Executive Director Sara Symington, interim RFL Chief Executive Abi Ekoku and Wood, with RFL Executive Director of Performance & Participation Marc Lovering offering support.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.