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).

ex England coach talks to his ex playing staff shocker!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Rubbish. Did you notice how bad Craig Sandercock was.

Although he (Smith) may become on of the best coaches in the game, you've picked a very poor example.
Bradford have had a horrible season and not making the top 4 has put them in a precarious position.

Regarding Macnamara, it's good that he is trying to improve his knowledge of the game and all credit to him for doing so but, ANY Great Britain coach should be above assistant level at ANY club, which indicates the poor caliber of applicant for the role, when he was appointed or, what a poor decision it was to appoint him in the first place.

Bennett is certainly a superior coach than Macnamara and we will soon find out if he can steer the GB team to victory over the Aussies.