McNamara set to be named Catalans coach

Former Bradford Bulls and England head coach Steve McNamara is set to take up the vacant post at Catalans according to the League Weekly.

The 45-year-old is the current New Zealand Warriors assistant coach and his appointment will come as a surprise to many with his name not mentioned for the position until today.

It is believed the Dragons failed in an attempt to land Warrington head coach Tony Smith and they have now turned to Hull-born McNamara to try save them from the Qualifiers.

Following an embarrassing 56-12 defeat at home to Huddersfield on Saturday, the French outfit sit ninth and will have to fight for their Super League lives should they fail to get into the top eight during the next five rounds.

A worrying thing for Catalans and potential new coach McNamara is that the Giants, who sit directly above them, have a game in hand which they will play this weekend against St Helens.

Should Huddersfield win that game then there will be a three-point gap separating them and the top eight places, which will make things very difficult for the Perpignan club.

With McNamara’s appointment seemingly imminent, his first match in charge would be on Saturday 24 June when they travel to struggling Warrington – who sit one point and one place below the Dragons at present.