Gold Coast Titans assistant coach Brian McDermott has been appointed head coach of England, marking a major milestone in his decorated rugby league career.
The experienced mentor will take the reins of the national side of his homeland ahead of the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, with the tournament to be held in Australia.
McDermott described the appointment as the pinnacle of his career, surpassing even his achievements as a player.
“It would be the highest,” McDermott said.
“Representing my nation on a playing level was special, but to represent the whole nation from a coach’s point of view and lead the team, it would be single-handedly the best single achievement for sure.”
Even with the international role, McDermott will remain based on the Gold Coast in his current position with the Titans, utilising technology to stay connected with his England squad throughout the season.
“There are no scheduled meetings or training sessions in England, and towards the end of the year it gets really busy,” he said.
“The beauty of Zoom and Teams (virtual meetings) nowadays is that even if I was based in the UK, I’d probably still be doing a lot of it online.
"I’ve got no intention at this stage to go back, so I’ll be working with the players remotely during the year.”
England will enter the World Cup aiming to break a drought that stretches back more than 50 years, but McDermott is confident in the current playing group’s ability to challenge the world’s best.
“I think the crop of athletes is very good, and our potential to break the spell is positive,” he said.
“But we have to have a plan that suits England, suits British players and suits the competition they’ve come from.
"If we get that right, and the players buy in and believe in it, then we’ve got a real chance.”
"With the World Cup taking place in Australia, McDermott believes his role within the NRL system will prove a significant advantage, providing regular exposure to many of the game’s top international players.
“There are a fair number of UK players based in the NRL now, and most of the international teams are made up of players from this competition,” he said.
“It’s going to be a real benefit for me because I’ll be planning for and against those players throughout the NRL season.”
One of those players is Titans centre AJ Brimson who made his England debut in the series against Australia at the end of 2025.
McDermott’s appointment adds further international experience to the Titans’ coaching staff, with the club acknowledging its pride in supporting his achievement on the global stage.
