Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith is tipped to become a consultant to England's Four Nations rugby league team.

Smith is the elder brother of former England coach Tony Smith, who gave up the post after last year's Four Nations.

The 56-year-old Australian is expected to act as a mentor to Steve McNamara, with the Bradford coach and England assistant taking charge of the national side.

The Rugby Football League would likely announce the appointments next week, UK media reported on Tuesday, although the governing body remained tight-lipped on the speculation.

"We have no comment to make until we are ready to make an announcement," a spokesman told the British Press Association.

Brian Smith coached McNamara at Hull and Bradford.

Tony Smith, 43, appointed McNamara as his assistant when he took the England job in 2007 and the pair worked together in the unsuccessful World Cup campaign of 2008 and the more promising 2009 Four Nations campaign.

Tony Smith resigned after England's defeat by Australia in the final because he no longer wanted to combine the job with the new club role he had taken on at Warrington.

The next Four Nations series will be played in New Zealand and Australia in October and November.

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