ENGLAND are set to revert to a full-time head coach following the decision of Tony Smith to step down from the role.

Smith quit in the wake of England's 46-16 defeat by Australia in Saturday's Gillette Four Nations final for family reasons and to concentrate on his club role with Warrington.

The 42-year-old Australian privately made the decision not to seek a new contract, which runs out this month, before the start of the tournament but will help the Rugby Football League unearth his successor.

The search for a new coach to lead England into the 2013 World Cup began today when a four-man panel, chaired by RFL chief executive Nigel Wood, was set up to come up with a short-list of candidates for approval by the RFL board.

Justin Morgan, the Aussie coach of Hull KR, is understood to be the man Rugby Football League bosses want.

Another contender for the job is former England skipper Ellery Hanley, who currently has no ties with any club side.

Hanley previously coached St Helens.

Wakefield boss John Kear has also expressed an interest, having worked with England in the past.

Steve McNamara, who assisted Smith, is also in the frame.

There have been calls from several former players for legendary Aussie coach Wayne Bennett to act in a consultant's role alongside the new coach as he did with Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney in last summer's World Cup final victory over Australia.

The other members of the selection panel are former Wigan and Great Britain centre Barrie Jon Mather, who joined the League as head of player development this summer, head of human performance Clive Brewer, and head of England's elite training squad, Paddy Mortimer.

The panel will call on other experts, including Smith, who is keen to be involved in the process.

The victorious Kangaroos are not only taking home the trophy, but also young Sam Burgess, England's best player throughout the series - talk about a double whammy.

Burgess has signed for South Rabbitos in the NRL and is expected to be a big hit.

But for Warrington skipper Adrian Morley, who performed heroically alongside Burgess, and skipper Jamie Peacock, this could have been their international swansong.

England actually led 16-14 after 50 minutes but the last 27 minutes played into Australian hands as Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston cut loose to heap more misery on England.