Four left in mix for England job

BRADFORD Bulls chief Steve McNamara and Hull FC coach Richard Agar are both believed to be on the shortlist for the vacant England job.

Former Wigan and Great Britain forward Denis Betts – now an assistant coach with Guinness Premiership club Gloucester – has also emerged as a surprise contender while Harlequins coach Brian McDermott is the other name in the reckoning.

While the Super League coaches understandably refused to be drawn on reports yesterday, Betts admitted he has been interviewed but was unsure whether his bid had been successful.

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The RFL have been searching for a replacement for Tony Smith since he stood down following the Gillette Four Nations final loss against Australia in November.

"It's a great opportunity and I think it's a great job," Betts told the Yorkshire Post.

"I spoke to them about three weeks ago but haven't heard anything since.

"I've had a chat with people from the RFL but I'm as much in the dark as anyone.

"They haven't appointed anybody yet so who knows.

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"It's not like I'm looking for anything as I've got another 18 months on my contract to run here at Gloucester but when someone comes to speak to you about a national job you obviously talk with them."

The RFL is expected to name Smith's successor soon after the Easter programme of Super League fixtures.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats coach John Kear – an early favourite for the role – is understood to have not been approached leaving McNamara, Agar, McDermott and Betts as the main contenders.

McNamara had worked as Smith's international assistant for the last three years and he has previously spoken about his desire to eventually lead England.

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His current contract at Odsal runs out at the end of this season with Bradford currently in eighth place.

Agar, meanwhile, also briefly operated on Smith's backroom staff before concentrating on the task at Hull when he was appointed head coach while former Bradford prop McDermott originally cut his coaching teeth as Smith's assistant during the Australian's time in charge at Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos.

He has been head coach in London since 2006 but Harlequins currently prop up the rest of Super League with just one win.

Former Great Britain second-row Betts, a star of the all-conquering Wigan side in the early 1990s, is the shock runner given he has been out of the sport since resigning from Wigan at the end of 2005.

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He had been appointed head coach earlier that year but was soon demoted to assistant to make way for the arrival of Ian Millward and quit that November after refusing to take charge of the club's Under-21s.

The RFL are wanting a full-time British coach but could also employ an experienced overseas influence to work alongside the new man with Wayne Bennett, who performed such a role in New Zealand's 2008 World Cup triumph, an obvious candidate.

Former Great Britain captain Paul Sculthorpe is helping with the search for a new coach whose first match will be against France at Leigh on June 12 ahead of the autumn Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Bradford are keen on a deal for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' highly-rated England Academy half-back Cain Southernwood.

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The 17-year-old – son of former Castleford hooker Graham Southernwood – is regarded as one of the country's leading young talents so it comes as a surprise that Wildcats are considering letting him go.

However, Kear is a long-time admirer of Bradford's Kieran Hyde, a 20-year-old full-back and stand-off who also represented England Academy but has yet to go on and make a Super League appearance, meaning a swap deal could soon take place.

Catalans Dragons full-back Chris Walker has been ordered to appear before the RFL's disciplinary committee to answer a charge arising out of the challenge that left Hull KR winger Liam Colbon nursing a broken jaw.

Walker has been charged with illegal use of the forearm on Colbon, who had to be carried off on a stretcher after suffering concussion during Rovers' 16-10 defeat by the Dragons at Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday night.

Colbon was forced to be detained in hospital in Perpignan overnight and is expected to be out for two months after the break was confirmed on his return to Hull.