England coach Steve McNamara analysed the psyche of every one of his 24 players before finalising his squad for the Four Nations series trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Ability and form were high on his list of considerations but so too were character and personality as McNamara delivered a group of players he believes can defy the odds by becoming the first British team to win a series on Australian soil for 40 years.

"They are paramount ingredients," he said. "You can look back at the soccer World Cup where teams that on paper were perceived to be a lot better than others were out-performed by them.

"Spirit and character and the chemistry in the squad can take you a hell of a long way.

"If you can combine that with quality international players, which we have, I think it makes you a very strong force. It is very important to me."

In ensuring there were no egos in the touring squad that will fly out of Manchester on Friday night to prepare for a warm-up match against the New Zealand Maori in Auckland on Saturday week, McNamara has left no stone unturned.

He drew on his experience as assistant to previous boss Tony Smith, a three-year period which took in the highs of a 3-0 Test series whitewash of the Kiwis as well as the lows of a World Cup flop, and believes he has learned the lessons from the past.

An agreed parting of the ways with Bradford two months before the end of the season enabled McNamara to throw himself fully into his role of national coach.

He spent valuable time in Australia and New Zealand checking out hotels and training facilities and drawing on knowledge from such diverse sources as Australia's netball coach Norma Plummer and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, a rugby league fanatic and co-owner of South Sydney.

McNamara also took the opportunity to line up a series of extra-curricular activities that promises to take team-bonding to new heights - literally in some cases.

"We've got some activity in Melbourne such as the highest climbing wall experience in the world, the Rod Laver tennis centre and golf if they want to do that," he said.

"Players have been kicking the hell out of each other for 27 weeks of the year and sometimes the last thing they need is to be out there on a patch of grass.

"It gives them something to talk about. I'm sure we've all been in that situation when you get in a lift with somebody and there is an awkward moment when you don't know quite what to say.

"These sort of activities break that down."

McNamara dismisses the theory expounded by some players after the last World Cup that friction between the Leeds and St Helens camps helped contribute to the poor performances.

"These players have played an extremely long competition and they need to go out there and enjoy their next experience, which is representing their country in a foreign nation," he said.

"If you enjoy each other's company, you tend to perform well. The last three years have given me an insight into what works and what doesn't work and we are going to have fun."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP