Steve McNamara appointed assistant coach of New Zealand

Former England coach Steve McNamara says he is honoured to join New Zealand's backroom staff ahead of the 2017 World Cup.

The 45-year-old former Hull, Bradford and Great Britain forward, who was in charge of England for six years from 2010, has been appointed as assistant to Kiwis head coach David Kidwell as part of a reorganisation.

McNamara, who now works in Auckland as assistant to New Zealand Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney, takes over from Justin Morgan and Willie Poching, who were Kidwell's assistants for the 2016 Four Nations Series in England, while vastly-experienced administrator Shane Richardson is taking on the newly-created role of campaign manager.

McNamara, who left his job with Sydney Roosters at the end of last season to link up with his close friend and former Kiwis head coach Kearney, is delighted to return to the international fold.

"England moved on and I moved on," McNamara told Press Association Sport from his Auckland home.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with England but things move on. This opportunity arose and it's an extremely exciting opportunity.

Obviously on the last occasion Australia were too good for everybody else but there's not a lot to choose between any of the top three teams.

"The international scene is the pinnacle, it's world-class athletes competing against other world-class athletes and, with it being World Cup year, there's nothing bigger in the sport.

"I feel it's a great honour to be offered the job and it's one that I'm relishing."

McNamara, who was assistant to Tony Smith from 2006-09 initially with Great Britain and then England before being promoted to full-time head coach of the national side, guided England to a Test series triumph over New Zealand in 2015 before being told his contract would not be renewed and he was succeeded by veteran Australian Wayne Bennett.

McNamara, who enjoyed 16 wins from his 27 matches in charge and took England to within 20 seconds of the 2013 World Cup final, will be hoping to emulate the feat of former Australia boss Bennett, who helped Kearney guide New Zealand to unexpected success in the 2008 World Cup.

The Hull-born McNamara could go up against England in the semi-finals of the 2017 tournament if results from the earlier rounds go as expected but he insists there will be no split loyalty.

"Whatever the tournament throws up, my focus will be completely on helping New Zealand be successful and whatever opposition we come across we'll look at that when it comes," he said.

"The biggest thing for this World Cup is that, because of the changes to the eligibility rules, all the best players in the world will definitely be involved. If players don't get picked for New Zealand or the other tier-one countries, they are allowed to represent other countries.

"I think it's going to be a fascinating tournament. I think the 2013 World Cup was certainly the best I've been involved in and this one will hopefully match or even surpass it."

Australia will go into the tournament as firm favourites but McNamara, who watched England's opening game against the Kiwis in October before linking up with the Warriors for the start of pre-season training, believes it is wide open.

"Obviously on the last occasion Australia were too good for everybody else but there's not a lot to choose between any of the top three teams," he said.

McNamara and Richardson, a former chief executive of Cronulla, Gatehead, Hull and South Sydney, will work alongside Kidwell for the ANZAC Test against Australia in Canberra on May 5.

Kidwell, who succeeded Kearney last September, said: "We had an independent review after last year's Four Nations and that's where it was identified that, in order for us to have a winning culture and ultimately give us the best shot at winning the World Cup, there was a need for greater leadership, both on and off the field."