England coach Shaun Wane will be open to making a return to club rugby after the World Cup but says it would have to be as a head coach.

The former Wigan boss is currently full-time with England in the build-up to the 2021 World Cup in the autumn but admits he misses the day-to-day involvement in the game.

Wane has a long-held ambition to coach in the NRL but says he would have to be in charge of a club and so rules out following the example of one of his predecessors, Steve McNamara, who went part-time after the 2013 World Cup to become assistant coach at Sydney Roosters and then New Zealand Warriors.

โ€œIโ€™m not a good assistant,โ€ Wane said. โ€œI tried it with Michael Maguire (at Wigan) and I was terrible.

โ€œHe might have thought I was okay. But Iโ€™m too opinionated, I need to be in charge.โ€

Wane, 56, was appointed as the successor to part-time Australian Wayne Bennett on a two-year contract 14 months ago and subsequently extended his deal to the end of 2022.

โ€œIโ€™m still contracted to the RFL,โ€ he added. โ€œRalph (chief executive Ralph Rimmer) and the team have been really supportive to me and I want to deliver a really good World Cup.

Hull FC v Catalans Dragons โ€“ Super League โ€“ KCOM Stadium
Shaun Wane says he will not be following the example of Steve McNamara in reverting to part-time England coach after the World Cup (PA Images/Richard Sellers)

โ€œIf something happens in club land here or overseas, Iโ€™d definitely listen to it. It could be part-time but everything I do is full-time.โ€

One Super League vacancy has been filled, with Daryl Powell set to take over from Steve Price at Warrington in 2022, but there is still an opening at Castleford.

โ€œThe only thing Iโ€™m thinking about is the World Cup,โ€ Wane said. โ€œThatโ€™s my only focus.โ€

Meanwhile, Wane will get a chance to meet up with his players face to face for the first time at Leeds Beckett University next Tuesday as he steps up preparations for the international against a Combined Nations All Stars on June 25.

โ€œI need to get on the field,โ€ he said. โ€œIโ€™ve lost a year of my time with the players so itโ€™s catch-up.

Wigan Warriors v Wakefield Trinity โ€“ Betfred Super League โ€“ Totally Wicked Stadium
Wigan full-back Zak Hardaker has had a few run-ins with his old coach Shaun Wane (PA Images/Martin Rickett)

โ€œItโ€™s okay over zoom but nothing is as good as being out on the field and physically seeing the players do it.โ€

Wane says he is looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with Wigan full-back Zak Hardaker, who has had his share of off-field problems over the years and has already clashed with his old boss.

โ€œMe and Zak have had a few awkward chats over this lockdown,โ€ Wane revealed. โ€œJust for him to understand what Iโ€™m about and what I will accept and what I wonโ€™t accept.

โ€œHe was good over the weekend and very competitive so Iโ€™m looking forward to it.

โ€œThe behaviour when the players represent England is very important to me โ€“ thatโ€™s everybody in the squad, not just Zak.

โ€œIโ€™m not the same as any other international coach, Iโ€™m quite strict on that and all the players understand where they are.โ€