[urlhttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/englishman-steve-mcnamara-in-parramatta-eels-coaching-frame/story-fni3ga7r-1226721140199[/url

Sorry, if this has been posted elsewhere, but I couldn't resist sharing.

It smells of the Aussie press trying to destabilise the English RL team before the world cup. The Aussies really get my back up. They're the best team in the world with the best players in the world yet they do everything to stack the deck in their favour. Selecting Tongans, NZ'ers, Samoans etc (I know we've done this recently), picking their own refs, not banning players for foul play, notably Willie Mason for the Fielden and Long incidents. I really hope they get stuffed.

They can't take losing either. Brisbane in 2008 was hilarious. All cocky and arrogant before the game and quiet as mice after it.

That job is becoming like the England football managers job, A JOKE, good luck to anyone daft enough to take it on as it sounds like they want a YES man

Christ almighty - McBanana's the last thing the Eels need at the minute.

Let's hope the Eels take him and very soon too.
He was hopeless at Bradford and doesn't show any signs of improvement since.
Then we'd need a panic appointment!
England would need an English trophy winning coach and due to his inexperience would probably need an experienced Aussie who's been there and done it.
My two panic appointments would be Shaun Wane, with Wayne Bennett as his assistant/consultant.
Maybe Wane and Bennett could acheive with England the same as Kearney and Bennett did with New Zealand!
We must let the Eels know really good McNamara is!

Wayne Bennett as no 2 to Shaun Wane?

The strange this is that I feel England might impress this year, even if they don't necessarily win the trophy.

The disadvantage of Steve Mac's habitual odd selections could be outweighed by the advantage brought to us by the amazing form of our NRL-based contingent. On top of that, you could pick a pretty decent side out of our Big Four alone, even if it would be a little light on actual superstars. We'll certainly be able to field a very fearsome pack.

If this happens, will the assumption be that Steve Mac is a good coach after all, or will the Aussies be able to see beyond that?

Personally, I'm with Pemps on this. I think it's a fabrication designed to cause discord in the England camp. But if the net result was that Steve Mac got poached, I wouldn't be too bothered - the only real concern would be who gets the job next, and which one or our assistant coaches (Deacs?) might they start tapping up?

He's going and taking Wilkin and JJB with him as his star signings.

Wayne Bennett was the assistant to Stephen Kearney when NZ won the 2008 World Cup.

I'd be delighted

Classic dirty tricks. Can you imagine if you were an England player how you could have your mind on the World Cup now, knowing that McNamara could be poached after the tournament? Who could we ever get to replace him?

I predict that we will not win the World Cup now. Remember where you heard it first.