AUSSIE Shaun McRae is firm favourite to succeed Brian Noble as the new full-time Great Britain rugby league coach.

Noble, the Wigan Warriors coach, has stepped down at international level after three years in charge of the Lions.

McRae, the ex-Saints and Hull coach, is strongly tipped to take over and is available.

He recently coached Australian club South Sydney where he also fulfilled the role of football director but has since stood down.

He is said to be keen on the Great Britain job and could combine this with media duties.

McRae has also been linked with the Warrington Wolves.

Noble will now solely concentrate his efforts on coaching Wigan in Super League.

His Great Britain contract expired last month and he stood down after a meeting with the Rugby Football League's executive chairman Richard Lewis.

Review

Explaining the decision, Lewis said: "Following our thorough review, we believe the Great Britain position requires a coach's full-time focus.

"The person in question must work from the heart of the RFL to give direct input into our leading players and their club coaches.

"We believe only a full-time coach will have the proper opportunity to positively influence plans for the World Cup in 2008 and further into the future."

Noble has given his recommendations for a major overhaul and restructuring of the domestic game in order to bolster the international set up.

And he has also called for a reduction on the work load of Super League's leading players. He also wants to see a return to the targeting by clubs of top rugby union stars.

In recent years, the roles have been reversed but Noble who won six of his 14 Tests in charge, says: "When Great Britain have been strong we have managed to entice the top union players.

"In my view I think we need to find a way to reopen that corridor.

"I'm also strongly against the amount of games our top players are playing.

"They play seven more than their rivals and that's a quarter of the season."

McRae has the ideal credentials, he has worked with the Australian team at international level, his club record is good and he knows the Super League set-up inside out.

Who do you think should get the job? Have your say.

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