Former Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara has spoken on what his future holds, insisting his passion and drive for coaching remains.
Out of a job since his axing by Catalans in May, Steve McNamara has spoken for the first time and outlined his intent to take on a new project.
He appeared on the Super League Raw podcast to discuss a wide range of things throughout his career, including that sacking and also what happens next.
McNamara is currently the highest-profile British rugby league coach without a job and will understandably be linked with vacant jobs given his record. That’s a record that includes time as England head coach, a Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and two Grand Final appearances with Catalans.
He was actually asked about a possible return to the England role, something which he batted back out of respect for incumbent Shaun Wane.
McNamara said: “I probably won’t answer that directly because someone is in a job there but that was one of the best periods. It’s a different style of coaching, you’re not on a weekly schedule but being able to pull a programme together and create an identity. From that job, I have no regrets.
“It’s something I probably haven’t thought too much about and I won’t answer directly but wow, what a sensational job that is and when you look at the excitement of what’s coming at the end of the year, you’ve got to say it’s something that anybody would want to take on.”
Steve McNamara looking for new “exciting and potentially different” new job
Having discussed his exit, something he spoke about with class as he paid tribute to Catalans, Steve McNamara was asked about his future plans and if he still has any intentions to coach again. To that, the answer was unequivocal.
“Huge itch, huge passion, huge drive, huge energy for whatever the next project is,” he declared.
“Without doubt, that project for me needs to be something which is challenging, exciting, potentially different, I don’t know.
“A bit like the Catalans job for me when I was in New Zealand and that came up and I was like ‘Wow, this is something that I want to do, something I must do and invest everything in’.”
He”d even quietly hint at a possible code switch, adding: “Regardless of what that opportunity is and (how it) presents itself and when that opportunity presents itself, I will be all in. Absolutely all in and ready to do something special again if we can with whatever team or whatever sport that may be.”
McNamara’s comments around ‘whatever sport’ suggest he could be the latest in a long line of successful rugby league coaches to move to union, and he even revealed that he’d considered it when leaving the England job.
“After the 2013 World Cup, I knew I had to do something different,” he explained, adding: “It was potentially Bath Rugby Union but it ended up being the Roosters in Sydney, when I was at the Warriors it was the Catalans Dragons.
“I don’t know what it will be but I will be ready.”
As for if his next job could be in 2025, he stated: “You can’t answer yes or no to that because it depends on what that opportunity is. I just know that I am ready to go, I’ve had a rest and a break.
“If I need to continue having that then I will find some really interesting things in that period of time. I’ve got some good friends and good contacts in all sports and different countries so I can utilise that time fully until that opportunity comes along.”
Steve McNamara breaks silence on Catalans Dragons’ exit with classy comments
You can listen to the full podcast with Steve McNamara from Super League Raw here.
