Rugby League Coaching Manuals

By Ian Laybourn, Sporting Life - Tony Smith wants to continue as England head coach after this year despite returning full-time to the club scene with Super League strugglers Warrington.

The 42-year-old Australian has stepped down from his role as the Rugby Football League's technical director to become head of coaching and rugby at Wolves on a two-and-half-year contract, but will remain as national head coach in a part-time capacity.

The former Huddersfield and Leeds boss will be in charge for England's mid-season international against France in Paris and the Four Nations tournament in October and November, when his contract with the RFL runs out.

Despite England's World Cup flop, Smith insists he is keen to remain in the job and RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis says the position could remain part-time.

"It is something that I'd like to do but we'll assess it and make a decision later in the year," Smith told a news conference at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. "We'll see how things are going."

Lewis added: "If all parties currently involved are happy and in agreement, then it is possible that Tony Smith will continue as coach beyond his current contract.

"That will be a decision taken after this autumn's Four Nations."

Lewis says the RFL will consider the appointment of a new technical director as part of a review of their performance and coaching department in the wake of England's World Cup disappointment.

That review is set to be made public in a month's time.

"Clearly we would have liked Tony to remain full-time with us until the end of his contract," he said.

"However, the demand for his services underlines his standing as a coach.

"We are therefore pleased to retain him as national coach for this year's internationals and this means that he stays in the role for which he has most experience.

"The only thing that has really happened is the timetable for the change from full to part-time has been moved forwards."

Smith's appointment at Warrington is a response to their disappointing start to the engage Super League season under the inexperienced James Lowes.

Appointed initially in a caretaker capacity following the dismissal of Paul Cullen last May, Lowes guided the Wolves to seven wins from his first eight matches and was rewarded with a permanent appointment and a contract to the end of the 2009 season.

But they have lost all eight matches since then, a run that stretches back to August, and were booed off the pitch following their recent home defeat by Catalans Dragons a fortnight ago.

Although he will remain as first-team coach, Lowes made clear his unease over the backroom re-shuffle.

"I'm very disappointed," he told the press conference. "I'm possibly not ready for the job, not quite good enough for the job.

"But I'm sure once things settle down, we'll form a great partnership and that's what we intend to do."

Smith took charge of training on Thursday for his first match, which ironically will be against Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos, the team he guided to the championship in 2007 before becoming full-time national coach.

Smith revealed he turned down the chance to succeed Cullen last year and was keen not to miss out a second time.

"I'm excited about this," he said. "It's a very big club with a very big future.

"I've had a desire to coach at club level again so when this came about, my fear was that maybe I'd miss out on a great opportunity."

Smith also revealed he hopes to help Lowes, whom he appointed to his Great Britain backroom staff in 2007, re-establish his coaching credentials.

"Jimmy and I have worked together at Great Britain level and I know what a great coach he is," he said.

"Part of my remit will be getting Jimmy back to being a Super League head coach if that's what he wants.

"I applaud the club for not doing what most clubs do and that is sack their coaches, send them out into the wilderness and we never see them again.

"It's a difficult one for Jimmy but I'm sure he's going to bounce back."