MAC’S BACK

PAGES OF FANTASTIC Steve flown in to rescue Dragons

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STEVE McNAMARA is back in Super League after being handed the task of lifting the flagging fortunes of Catalans Dragons.

The former England coach yesterday signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the French club. He was released from his contract as assistant with New Zealand Warriors and succeeds Laurent Frayssinous as head coach. The 45-year-old, who was in charge of England from 2010 to 2015, will arrive in Perpignan today in time to take charge of Saturday’s Super League clash at Warrington. McNamara said: “The club has a huge potential. “I look forward to working closely with the current group of staff and players, helping the team improve in all areas of our performance and organisation.” McNamara was the youngest head coach in Super League when he was appointed by Bradford Bulls in 2006.

Guided

He has spent the last three and a half years working as an assistant coach in the NRL, initially with Sydney Roosters and then the Auckland-based Warriors. McNamara, who guided England to the semi-finals of the 2013 World Cup, was recently appointed as an assistant to Kiwis head coach David Kidwell.

Now he will take up the challenge of leading a Dragons team struggling in the bottom four and reeling from a 56-12 home defeat by Huddersfield in their last match.

Jerome Guisset and Michael Monaghan, who have been in caretaker charge since Frayssinous left last month, will stay as his assistant coaches.

Catalans chairman Bernard Guasch said: “My wish was to find an English coach, recognised and respected in his country and in this competition.

“The choice of Steve, the former England coach, was the best in my opinion.

“He expressed his desire to come to France to lead the Dragons and we were lucky that he was available immediately.” WAKEFIELD will face Wigan at Warrington in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Sunday, July 30. Hull FC face Leeds 24 hours earlier at Doncaster in the other semi-final.