Brian McDermott is convinced that he can craft the strategy needed to finally deliver England’s long‑awaited Rugby League World Cup triumph and put an end to Australia’s historic dominance. Appointed on Thursday as the successor to Shaun Wane—who resigned in January after a 3-0 Ashes defeat to the Kangaroos—McDermott now carries the weight of expectation that England will secure its inaugural World Cup title.
Australia, the co‑hosts and defending champions, have won nine of the past ten tournaments and have been a virtually insurmountable hurdle for England, which has not defeated the Aussies since the 1995 final. Yet McDermott, speaking with palpable passion, insists that the disparity between the two nations is not permanent and that England, three‑time runners‑up, can finally make the decisive leap. "We need a plan that is tailored for British‑based players, a squad that largely competes in a competition very different from the NRL," McDermott explained.
"It can’t be a generic approach. We can’t simply copy what other countries are doing. If we want to go deep into the tournament, our game plan must be distinct and specific to our strengths." He drew an analogy with boxing, recalling Tyson Fury’s 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury openly admitted that his right hand was not as powerful as Klitschko’s and that he would not try to match him punch for punch. Instead, Fury adopted a different style that caught the champion off‑guard and secured the win.
"He had to do something different. He used a game plan Klitschko wasn’t used to and got the job done. Take from that what you will," McDermott said.
"The gap is bridgeable and the competition is winnable – but not if you stand in front of Klitschko, lie to yourself, and claim your right hand is as strong as his," he added. "If anyone thinks I’m saying we can’t win, they’re not listening. We can win. We can absolutely win, but we have to do some things differently." Having bested a strong field that included Sam Burgess, Paul Rowley, Brad Arthur and Steve McNamara to claim the England job, McDermott now faces a tight timetable.
England’s World Cup opener against Tonga is scheduled for 17 October, and the new head coach’s first priorities will be to assemble his back‑room staff and begin contacting players. He will be undertaking these tasks from Australia, where he remains an assistant coach with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.
At 56, McDermtt acknowledged that the part‑time nature of the role and the distance between the two hemispheres present challenges, but he stressed that modern technology mitigates those issues. "It does pose some challenges, but with the internet nowadays I can watch games and see the vision I need," he said.
"I already watch enough Super League games without being England coach. The irony is, even if I were based in the UK, I’d probably meet players on Zoom anyway." McDermott also hinted that his commitment could extend beyond the World Cup.
"I would be interested in taking the job beyond the World Cup," he confirmed, suggesting a longer‑term plan to build a sustainable England side that can consistently challenge Australia’s supremacy. In addition to tactical considerations, McDermott addressed a lingering controversy from the previous Ashes series. Leeds half‑back Jake Connor, who was omitted by Wane for the 2023 Ashes, received an explicit vote of confidence from the new coach. "He is, for sure.
Absolutely," McDermott replied when asked whether Connor features in his World Cup plans. He went on to criticize the media narrative that painted Connor as a divisive figure, noting that such debates are irrelevant to on‑field performance. "What nobody can argue is that he’s a tremendous player. He’s fantastic.
He’s a game‑breaker," McDermott asserted. The broader context of the tournament also includes a robust broadcasting arrangement. Sky Sports will once again provide live coverage of every Super League match throughout the season, with two fixtures per round broadcast exclusively live and the remaining five matches shown on the main Sky Sports channels. This comprehensive coverage ensures that fans can follow both domestic league action and the international World Cup campaign.
Looking ahead, McDermott’s challenge is to translate his strategic vision into concrete results on the field. He must meld the skill sets of Super League stars with the physicality and pace typical of NRL‑style play, while fostering a resilient team culture that can withstand the pressure of a world‑stage knockout tournament.
If he can successfully integrate these elements, England may finally close the long‑standing gap with Australia and lift the coveted Rugby League World Cup for the first time in its history.