It’s time to put tribal loyalties aside in order to reach the ultimate goal

If he is not at a venue taking in a fixture live, often casting an eye over three matches during the course of a weekend, he will inevitably be found pouring over further footage at RFL headquarters.

It comes with the job. He may be meeting legendary football managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in the weeks ahead and holding meetings with rugby league’s top-brass to establish pathways forward but, uppermost, he needs to be fully aware of every player available for England selection and how they are performing.

It comes as no surprise that McNamara clocked up nearly 50,000 miles in his car last year in his quest to keep abreast of everything occuring in the domestic competition.

“I get to as many games as I can,” the former Bradford Bulls chief told the Yorkshire Post on the eve of the new campaign.

“But, fortunately, I do enjoy that aspect of it all. Even now, watching pre-season games is real interesting to see individuals and teams evolve from the current embryo stages to where they will develop over the course of Super League.

“But from the international perspective, we obviously have a lot to get through.

“I go watch a fair few games and then the footage of every single Super League match plus the NRL, too, as we’ve got players based out there as well.

“We’ve employed full-time analysts at the RFL which has never been done before and so as well as getting your own personal opinions we look at it together as a staff as well.

“We get some good statistical information on every player in the competition.”

McNamara, starting his second full year in charge of the national side, admits it is a huge process monitoring so many potential members of his England squad.

There may not be any fixtures against Australia or New Zealand this year but, with the countdown to the 2013 World Cup now beginning in earnest, it remains a crucial time for the squad’s development.

McNamara’s eye for what makes an England player involves plenty of homework.

“Obviously, you get a gut feeling when you watch a game live and you see what happens out there,” he explained.

“But you have got to be backed up by some sort of evidence and support as well.

“We like to know statistically who is performing at the highest but it’s really interesting how easily misleading perceptions can be made.

“An average human being will retain about 20 per cent of what it actually sees through the whole 80 minutes of a game.

“So, you have got to be careful you don’t go with preconceived ideas of a player because actually sometimes when you do that you just see the things that you expect.”

McNamara will name both his Elite Training Squad and England Knights squad after just five rounds of Super League action so players have to be quickly out of the blocks if they want to force their way into his plans.

“It’s an important phase for us right at the start but we understand some players will improve, some will not, and there will be lots of ups and downs,” he added, with the squad’s first fixtures likely to be a two-match series against the Exiles in June.

He readily accepts his relationship with all 14 Super League coaches – remember Leon Pryce is the first Englishman playing at Catalan – is vital in helping take the national side forward.

McNamara’s ultimate goal is to win the World Cup and earn a first significant international success in 40 barren years.

“For the England team to be successful, I’m relying on a lot of Super League coaches coaching the players week in, week out,” he said.

“Some of the areas I might feel us as an England team need to improve in, if I can share that with them then we can work together on making our game stronger.

“I’ve been building relationships with coaches but also the chief executives and owners of clubs, too. That is of paramount importance as we’re not a centrally contracted sport.

“There is a huge difference and they hold the key to the players.

“We worked really hard in that area last year and had great co-operation from them and the players as well.”

McNamara has tried engendering a Team England vibe, creating the same sort of spirit players enjoy at club level but on the international stage, too, as he tries to break down four decades of under-achievement.

The RFL has backed him by investing in a new base at Loughborough University and the clubs have allowed players more England training days.

Although they failed to win the Four Nations final in November, McNamara believes the vibrant atmosphere created against the Australians is a sign that people are buying into the concept.

“You could really sense something special had happened when we walked out at Elland Road that night,” he said.

“Forget the result but that stadium, with so many people in there nearly all in white England shirts, was amazing to see.

“In the past, there’s been lots of club jersies – traditionally we’re a tribal sport and very passionate about our local team – but never so much white.

“So, on that occasion, I thought it sent a huge message to everyone about the things we’re trying to do to unite our sport, to make our players feel they’re part of two teams.

“That was the catalyst at the start of the tournament and it grew, bringing in fans, sponsors and everyone involved.

“Obviously, the final result was really disappointing. We had a great opportunity to do something against Australia and win which, of course, is the No 1 priority.

“But when you sit back and reflect on those occasions – Wembley, Hull and, ultimately, Elland Road – I could sense the whole of rugby league was massively behind England.

“I think the players deserve great credit for that as it emanates from them and it stretched all around the country.”

Some of the big questions ahead are will his influential captain Jamie Peacock, pictured left, and fellow veteran prop Adrian Morley still be firing come the World Cup in 20 months’ time.

Both will be in their 36th year but McNamara insists: “They are a massive influence because of their experience and knowledge.

“They have a huge stature within the game and I envisage that will continue whether they are playing or not.

“They are such outstanding ambassadors but what will decide if they make the World Cup is simply whether they are playing up to standard.”

As for those imminent meetings with the esteemed leaders in Premier League football, McNamara explains it is all part of his quest to gain that added extra edge from every possible source.

“What I’ve experienced in Australia before is a sharing of best practices,” he said.

“Over there, each national sport team really gets behind each other whereas here we’re actually tribal towards our own sports – when England rugby union play a lot of rugby league people want them to get beaten.

“We are quite insular. As coaches we’re not, but as organisations we may well be.

“I just think if we can share ideas it gives us all a better chance of succeeding and if all our international sports in England are successful the whole country benefits.

“I’m meeting Sir Alex Fergsuon and Arsene Wenger shortly and I also had a fascinating chat with Roy Hodgson, the West Bromwich manager.

“He speaks five languages, has managed all over Europe and coached the Swiss national team.

“When they went into international tournaments they were – very much like ourselves in rugby league – massive underdogs.

“It was interesting hearing how he dealt with that.”

Meanwhile, McNamara’s not the only one concerned with selecting squads – his young son Ben has some ideas waiting.

“He tells me who he wants in the England team but has strong opinions on Man United, too,” he said.

“When I see Alex Ferguson, he wants me to give him some lists – who the players are he should be playing, his best 11, and also which signings he should make!”