McDermott appointed England coach for RLWC2026
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Gold Coast Titans assistant coach Brian McDermott will draw on his NRL knowledge as he prepares to take charge of England at IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026.
McDermott, who joined the Titans this season from Newcastle Knights, was confirmed as the new England coach on Thursday.
Other contenders included South Sydney Rabbitohs great Sam Burgess and former Eels mentor Brad Arthur, who are coaching in the Super League, along with St Helens coach Paul Rowley and Hull FC-bound Steve McNamara.
However, McDermott has the advantage of coaching in the NRL and working under the conditions in which the World Cup will be played.
A number of England stars also play in the NRL, including Titans utility AJ Brimson, Dolphins pair Herbie Farnworth and Morgan Knowles, Knights winger Dom Young, Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley, Cowboys secondrower John Bateman and Raiders forwards Morgan Smithies and Matty Nicholls.
McDermott, who represented both England and Great Britain during a decorated playing career, said: “I’m incredibly proud to take on the role of England Head Coach ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
“My focus now is on creating an environment where players can perform with confidence, represent the shirt with pride, and give themselves the best chance of going deep into the tournament.
"I’ve always been hands-on and close to the detail, and that will be important in this role. My job now is to get the standards right, build belief in the group, and make sure we’re ready when it matters.”
McDermott is highly regarded for his coaching prowess in both hemispheres after steering Leeds to four Super League titles, as well as Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge victories.
He oversaw Toronto Wolfpack's promotion to Super League in 2019, working alongside former Great Britain coach Brian Noble, who coached him at Bradford Bulls.
Among his star recruits at Toronto was Sonny Bill Williams, who played five matches before the Wolfpack were forced to withdraw from Super League due to the outbreak of COVID.
The former England and Great Britain Test prop, who played 250 Super League matches for Bradford, coached USA at the 2017 World Cup and was involved with Fiji at RLWC2021.
He was selected by a four-person panel including RFL Chair Nigel Wood OBE, RFL Non-Executive Director Sara Symington, ex-England captain Kevin Sinfield CBE and former Great Britain international Kris Radlinski MBE.
Burgess, Arthur, Rowley and McNamara, the former England coach who had stints on the coaching staff of Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors, were also interviewed.
England-Eligible Players Top Tries of March
Hull KR's Willie Peters was initially considered the preferred candidate after long serving England coach Shaun Wane stood down after last year's 3-0 Ashes series loss to Australia.
However, Peters withdrew his interest to focus on preparing PNG Chiefs for their entry into the NRL in 2028.
England play Tonga and France in Perth on October 17 and October 24 before travelling to Wollongong to take on Papua New Guinea on October 30.
“We are delighted that Brian has accepted the role of England Head Coach, emerging from an outstanding field of candidates," Wood said.
“The selection process was comprehensive, thorough and the RFL is indebted to all those that assisted in the process.
“As the most successful coach in Super League history, Brian has demonstrated his capability to build fine teams and his previous experience as an international coach also demonstrates his knowledge of the unique challenges of harnessing players from different clubs in an international setting.
“By working currently in the NRL, Brian will have day to day visibility of many of the opponents the England team will be up against, while he also has a great network around the Betfred Super League clubs to ensure that the England team have the best possible chances of success."
The Titans congratulated McDermott, who will take on the prestigious role while continuing his NRL duties.
“Brian’s appointment is a fantastic recognition of the calibre of coach and person he is,” Titans head coach Josh Hannay said.
“He’s brought a wealth of experience, strong leadership and a genuine passion for developing players and staff, and we’ve already seen the benefits of that within our group.
“He’s more than deserving of the appointment and we’re proud to see him take on such a significant role.
“We wish him all the best when he begins at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.”
Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said the appointment was something that made the entire organisation extremely proud.
Match: England v Papua New Guinea
Round 3 -
home Team
England
away Team
Papua New Guinea
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
“This is a tremendous honour for Brian and a great reflection on the work he continues to do here at the Titans,” Mitchell said.
“To have one of our coaches leading a proud nation like England is significant, not just for Brian personally, but for our club as we continue to build a high-performance environment that attracts and develops world-class talent.
“I know how passionate he is for rugby league in his homeland and the vision he shares to achieve sustained success on the international stage.
“We’re thrilled to support Brian in this role and look forward to the knowledge and experience he will bring back into our program.”
Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.
