Since Shaun Wane stepped down as the head coach of England in January following a disappointing Ashes series loss to Australia, England Rugby League has been working diligently to find his successor ahead of the upcoming 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
This month, the selection process had narrowed down to a shortlist featuring three candidates: Brad Arthur, Sam Burgess, and Brian McDermott.
However, after three weeks of deliberation, reports indicate that McDermott has emerged as the frontrunner, surpassing both Arthur and Burgess for the role.
Currently serving as an assistant at the Gold Coast Titans, McDermott carries a remarkable coaching pedigree, having led the Leeds Rhinos for over 250 matches with a 61 percent success rate from 2011 to 2018.
He then brought his skills to Canada, achieving an impressive 81 percent win rate over 36 games before making his way back to England for a stint with the Featherstone Rovers.
A native of England, McDermott aims to reshape the national team's prospects and lead them to a successful campaign at the RLWC2026.
While England Rugby League was impressed with Arthur's extensive coaching background, there was a preference for an English coach to lead the team.
As for Burgess, despite his recognition as a top English talent in the NRL, he is still in the early stages of his coaching journey, having managed only 75 games with the Warrington Wolves.
It remains unclear if McDermott will leave his current role at the Titans to fully commit to the World Cup this year.