England’s troubled World Cup campaign has not put Steve McNamara off eventually leading his country.

The Bulls boss is back out on Bradford’s training field after returning from the national side’s doomed six-week trip to Australia.

England chief Tony Smith came under immense pressure from the media spotlight Down Under but assistant McNamara maintains that intense glare wouldn’t scare him off going for the top job in the future.

“Absolutely not,” said the coach, who has now come to the end of his current 18-month RFL deal. “Being frank, we never read anything out there anyway.”

As England No 2, McNamara was heavily involved during the tourists’ failed tournament but said: “I enjoyed the experience. As a coach you’re always going through different experiences and this was another new one – as an assistant, on tour with England.

“Just as when you’re head coach, I learned things all the time and this was another part of my development.

“Unfortunately, it just didn’t happen for us and we were all very disappointed for everyone, including the fans out there and back here.

“You learn from it though. We certainly have after these last few weeks and what I will say is the players were a pleasure to have around.”