Brian McDermott says he wants to stay on as England’s head coach for the 2030 Rugby League World Cup.
The former Leeds Rhinos head coach, 56, was appointed on a short-term agreement in April to guide England through this autumn’s World Cup, which is taking place in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
McDermott said when he started in the job that he would be interested in staying on beyond the tournament.
And although he has made clear that he wants to focus on the immediate task of seeking success this October and November, he does want to commit to his country for the long term if all goes well.
He said: “Well, we’ve had a very informal discussion about what that might look like and then that’s all it is. And it’s been a really short conversation.
“Clearly, I’d like to do the job for longer. I’d like to get another crack at the World Cup in four years’ time.
“You know, if you’re going to do this properly, give me four years’ preparation, where we’re building it up year by year and getting players connected to a programme which has got a start, a middle and the end.”
McDermott, currently working as an assistant coach at NRL club Gold Coast Titans, has taken the England role on a part-time basis, in contrast to his full-time predecessor Shaun Wane.
He has confirmed Wigan great Sean O’Loughlin and St Helens legend Paul Wellens as assistant coaches for the World Cup.
And he believes England are well set for it, but having had only a limited time to prepare – with no matches before their World Cup opener against Tonga in Perth on 17 October – he would like a chance to have a full build-up to a major tournament.
He said: “This has been a crazy, crazy period over the last few months to try and coordinate all this. And I think we’re in good shape, by the way.
“But yeah, I’ve made it no secret. I’d like a crack at the next World Cup and a four-year build-up to that.
“We haven’t gone too deep into those discussions. And when you mention it, you think, no, let’s not talk about that. I’ve got to get my mind on this here. So it has been mentioned, but I’m not chasing that just yet.”
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