Waite's Last Stand ?

Great Britain coach David Waite expects Saturday's third Test against Australia to be his last in charge. Waite, comes to the end of his initial three-year contract at the conclusion of the series with the Kangaroos.

The former Australian Test winger said he expects to continue in his other role as the Rugby Football League's performance director.

"In my thinking, this is the last game I will be involved with as GB coach," he said on Thursday.

Waite, the first Australian to coach the British national team, signed a 12-month extension to his contract earlier this year - but said he had no plans to carry on after Saturday.

"I have a contract that continues my performance role but not necessarily my coaching role," he said.

"I said at the end of the three years that I would be making recommendations to the board for the future.

"Whether the board accept or reject them can only be sorted by the board but I will fulfil my part of the arrangement."

Bradford coach Brian Noble, named Super League Coach of the Year, and Castleford boss Graham Steadman are among the favourites to succeed Waite.

But both have expressed reservations about being able to combine the Great Britain job with their club role.

Waite has admitted he is not yet in a position to make a reccomendation over his successor.

He has a Test-match record of just three wins and a draw from 10 matches but progress has been made under him.

The low point was a 64-10 drubbing by the Aussies in Sydney in July 2002, but but Waite's team managed a creditable drawn series with New Zealand last year.