Hull FC boss John Cartwright has ruled out the possibility of becoming a member of Australia’s coaching team this autumn.
The Kangaroos make the journey over to England in October to play in a three-game Ashes series against Shaun Wane’s side and Kevin Walters is in the process of putting together his coaching line-up.
There has been a suggestion that a Super League-based coach could be set to land an assistant gig, with Cartwright being linked to the role alongside the likes of Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur and Hull KR man Willie Peters.
Arthur has ruled himself out of the role, though, and Cartwright has now done the same, with the Black and Whites boss keen to return to Australia and spend time with his family over the off-season.
However, the Hull boss did admit that he has spoken to Walters, who he worked with at Brisbane Broncos and knows extremely. Speaking to Serious About RL on Monday, Walters joked that Cartwright was giving him ‘inside information’ on England’s Ashes team.
Cartwright has now explained just what advice he has given the Kangaroos boss.
Hull FC boss rules himself out of Australia assistant running
“I won’t be involved,” Cartwright said when asked about the role. “I’ll be heading home once the season is complete.”
Asked about that chat he’d had with Walters, Cartwright said: “I spoke to him.
“I worked with him for four years at the Broncos and I know him really well. He’s doing his due diligence on the job he’s got in front of him.
“We spoke about the differences in the game here from the NRL to Super League, those subtle differences he needs to know if it’s going to be English referees and controlled that way. It was an informal chat, but I told him to be really conscious of how the games are going to be controlled.
“I watch nearly every game every week here. He’s doing his homework and getting the Aussies ready for what will be a really tough campaign over here. If anyone thinks it’s going to be really easy for Australia, they’re in for a real shock.”
