England coach Steve McNamara believes his move to Australia will improve the national team's chances of ending their elusive search for major silverware.
The 42-year-old began his new job this week as an assistant coach of NRL champions Sydney Roosters but remains as enthusiastic as ever about his England role, despite going part-time.
McNamara's full-time contract with the Rugby Football League ended with England's heart-breaking exit from the World Cup in November, but he is keen to build on the progress he feels was made in his four years at the helm.
He will begin his preparations for the 2014 Four Nations Series with a get-together on Thursday with his Sydney-based England players, along with Warrington forwards Chris Hill and Ben Westwood, who are in the New South Wales capital on their club's pre-season training camp.
Although there is unlikely to be a mid-season international this year, McNamara plans to return to the UK in the summer to supervise a training camp and, in the meantime, his assistant Paul Deacon will oversee the continued development of the Super League-based elite training squad, starting with a get-together in early March.
"I think it's a huge advantage for the England national team for me to be out here, based in the NRL," McNamara told Press Association Sport.
"Obviously there are a fair few of our players are out here and all our opposition are out here so it's a logical one for me.
McNamara said the England program was strong, as were the people leading it there.
"There are a lot of things in place and I am really confident we can continue driving some of the things that we did over the last three or four years."
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