The Wire assistant will join Hull FC next month.
Steve McNamara will be Hull FC’s head coach for 2027 and beyond.(Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC-bound Steve McNamara has been ‘outstanding’ for Warrington Wolves this season, at least according to prop forward James Harrison.
McNamara will join Hull on a four-year deal ahead of next season. However, he has one last job to do first: play his part as Warrington gear up for their first Super League Grand Final victory.
The Wire take on Wakefield Trinity at Old Trafford this Saturday evening, with McNamara, who left Catalans Dragons last season after nearly eight years at the French club, spending the year as Sam Burgess’ assistant coach.
“He does all the attack,” Harrison said. “He’s been outstanding. It’s like having two head coaches this year. We’ve been really lucky.
“He’s going to be a big miss next year. We’ll miss him a lot. He’s not what he comes across; like, he looks dead serious, but he’s such a laugh. He’s a leader and he makes loads of jokes in the changing rooms. We’ll certainly miss him.
“He’s mentioned the final a few times. He lost two at Catalans. He said we’ve got to play free in these games and not get affected by the occasion and play like what’s got us here all season.“
The final also brings some sentiment to the Harrison family, with the forward looking to make his own mark at Old Trafford 35 years on from his dad’s big day.
In 1991, Karl Harrison was part of a Hull pack also containing Lee Jackson and Andy Dannatt, the Great Britain front row at the time. They defied the pre-match expectations to defeat Widnes Vikings 14-4, with Harrison, 30, now aiming to follow suit.
“He played for Hull in 1991,” Harrison said. “He’s told me all about it. He’s tried to make me watch that game a few times but I have never done it – it’s in black and white.”
And on Warrington’s chances this year, Harrison added: “It’s been an exciting week for us. We’re in a good place and we’re ready to go. We know we’ve got a chance to create history and we’re looking forward to it.
“Wakefield were outstanding last week (in victory over Wigan). It was an unbelievable performance and nobody expected them to do that in the way that they did.
“We know they’re a good team – they beat us just a few weeks ago and we know the threats and how good they are. They’re a big menacing team with a big pack.
“We know their strengths but we also know our strengths and we fancy our chances too. We’ve got that big game exposure now and we know what it takes to win the big games. We feel like this is our time.“