Steve McNamara is back in coaching with the ex-Catalans boss joining Warrington Wolves and he’s explained why in his first interview since the appointment.
It was an appointment that caught everyone by surprise with no real notion of McNamara making an immediate Super League return, much less so with Warrington Wolves in an as yet untitled role.
The former Catalans boss has been announced as a member of the coaching team but without huge clarity over what his actual title is, however, one thing is certain and that’s the class that McNamara brings.
His work at Catalans, whilst ending on a sour note, was incredible with the French club taken from the brink of relegation to being a genuine contender year in and year out from 2019 to 2023.
He joins a Warrington side who can use some of that consistency with the club recording Super League finishes of sixth, third, and most recently eighth.
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Warrington Wolves to get the ‘best version’ of Steve McNamara
Having been out of the game since his sacking mid-season, McNamara explained that it was the ‘right opportunity’ for him to take.
Speaking to club media, he explained: “I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity. I didn’t want to just take the next opportunity, there was some other chances that I could have looked at and potentially taken but I’ve just got a feel about this.
“This is the right one for me. The club are going to get the best version of myself.”
Explaining that, he said: “You’re on that treadmill as a coach and I’ve been on it for eight years in the south of France but I’m fully refreshed and ready to go. I can’t wait to get into it.
“Everyone else is just finishing the season and ready for a rest but I’m the opposite so it’s excitement for me about joining a club with great potential. I’m just looking forward to getting started and getting to work with the team.”
McNamara has a long-lasting relationship with Burgess, signing him at Bradford Bulls, and then working with him as England head coach.
“We signed him as a 15-year-old at Bradford and it makes us both feel old to be honest,” he admitted, adding: “We’ve got a great relationship and I’m sure it will be really strong moving through the season.”
As for the project at Wire, McNamara made plenty of references to the squad’s young talents with Warrington Wolves winning the academy Grand Final in 2025 after an unbeaten season. That group are currently on a tour in Australia and the new coach can’t wait to get started with those players, and the rest of the playing group.
He said: “It’s common knowledge that they’ve got some outstanding youngsters in the group and some outstanding senior players so to work with that mix is very very attractive.”
