Burgess welcomed back to league with open arms

Sam Burgess. Photo / Getty Images.

England rugby league coach Steve McNamara will roll out the red carpet for Sam Burgess to make his return to the national team - but not until next year.

The 2014 Grand Final hero confirmed yesterday he was returning to the 13-a-side code, after a year-long stint in rugby that started with huge fanfare but ended with a whimper at the Rugby World Cup.

McNamara can't wait to have him back in the fold, but indicated there was no rush.

"It's not for [talking about] now," said McNamara. "We are in the middle of a test series, we have got a great squad and we are in a good place. Sam will obviously be a welcome addition moving forward - he's been an integral part [of our team] but it is not a topic of conversation for us at the moment."

McNamara had more pressing topics on his mind a day out from the second test against the Kiwis - like ensuring his side doesn't repeat their sluggish opening to last week's game, when they were down 10-0 after 15 minutes.

"We are aware of our poor start and we have put some things in place that will hopefully ensure it's better."

The England coach also discounted suggestions that his side had the edge is slowing down the ruck last week, after Ben Matulino said the Kiwis failed to take advantage of the single referee.

"They were all over us in the first 30 minutes ...we couldn't get any breathing space at all," said McNamara. "The Australian style of wrestle that all those players play in came to the fore. The Southern hemisphere teams are very good at the wrestle and take it to the limit on most occasions. We had to do something about it ourselves, we felt we were in a tough situation and managed to get some momentum to get out of it."

There is a view that the presence of NRL referee Gerard Sutton should help the Kiwis, after they struggled with the interpretations of English whistler Ben Thaler last week, but McNamara dismissed the idea that the visitors be advantaged.

"I don't see any difference," said McNamara. "It's not a concern or an issue for us at all. It's another game, we need to play well and get a lot of those little areas right as you do in every game."

As well as an opportunity to seal the series, tomorrow's match is also a huge chance to spread the league gospel in the south of the country. The England side will play their first match in the capital since the 2013 World Cup semi-final - a rare chance for the sport in front of national audience. It's also judicious timing, off the back of England's dismal Rugby World Cup campaign.

"Playing in London is the opportunity for us," said McNamara. "Playing in the [Olympic] stadium with nearly 50,000 - it's a huge opportunity for the game in this country."

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