Wests Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons is hopeful he'll be appointed as the new boss of English Super League giants St Helens by next week.

With former St George Illawarra fullback Mick Potter leaving Knowsley Road to return to Australia at the end of the season, Simmons is the new favourite to take over as coach after meeting with club officials last week.

The 50-year-old has been Tim Sheens' No.2 at the Tigers for the past seven years, and his right-hand man with the Test side for 18 months.

However, Simmons believes the time is now right for him to return to a head-coaching role for the first time since leaving Penrith in 2001.

The former Kangaroos hooker enjoyed a two-year coaching stint with Hull in the early 1990s and reports in England said the Saints board were impressed with what Simmons had to say when they met last week.

"I flew over there for the weekend last week after our Friday night game," Simmons said.

"I met the CEO, the chairman and the football manager and it is a very professional set-up and I was really impressed with what they have over there.

"There is an impressive player recruitment scheme and also the youth policy and a very strong club.

"I came away from there hoping that I will pick up the job."

St Helens have a long history of employing Australian coaches with Parramatta's Daniel Anderson and former North Queensland boss Ian Millward both enjoying trophy-laden stints at Knowsley Road in recent years, and Simmons wants to add his name to their honours board.

"I have put it in the hands of my manager and he is looking after it with the St Helens club and we will hopefully have an answer by the end of the week," he said.

"I went over to Hull as a rookie in the 1992/93 season and I was it was great part of my apprenticeship and I still have a lot of friends over there and the experience of working there and with Tim Sheens has been invaluable."

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