A chance text message has seen Steve McNamara pull off an amazing coup bringing Brian Smith back to Odsal.

Ten years after heading home to Australia, the visionary former Bulls head coach is returning to assist big pal McNamara on a consultancy basis.

Smith, 51, quit as Parramatta Eels boss on Monday and was expected to be out of the game until taking up the Newcastle Knights head coach's job this winter.

However, he will arrive in England after the weekend on a short-term basis to lend a hand to the champions.

McNamara, whose side visit St Helens in the Powergen Challenge Cup tomorrow, has been seeking two assistants since Brian Noble and Phil Veivers left for Wigan.

He appointed Basil Richards today but will not be rushed into naming a second and the opportunity to call upon Smith's services, if only for a few weeks, was one he gladly accepted.

The arrangement came purely through a fortuitous chain of events, as McNamara, 34, explained: "Brian's a close friend. When he decided to leave Parramatta, I exchanged a couple of texts with him saying how sorry I was at how things had worked out there. Then things just developed.

"I didn't want to ask him straight out if he wanted to be my assistant, obviously, out of respect, and he didn't want to ask me either.

"But it became clear we were thinking on the same wavelength, the opportunity arose, he's available to come and everyone's happy."

Former Hull boss Smith is regarded as the man who laid the foundations for the Bulls' sustained glory during the Super League era.

He took charge in 1995, overhauling and implementing a new professional regime at the club as the summer age began.

Smith departed for Parramatta the following year but his assistants Matt Elliott and Noble continued preaching his ideals and the trophies have rained down.

Smith signed McNamara as a Bulls player and he recalled: "Brian also signed me as a 17-year-old at Hull and got me into good habits straight away.

"A lot of my principles now are based around him. I can't overstate how important he has been to me.

"It will be a bit strange now though. His first job will be to put the kettle on to keep his feet on the ground!

"He'll be good for me but all the rest of the staff too. It's a terrific coup. Effectively he's helping a mate but it's a fantastic opportunity for both parties."

Smith resigned as Parramatta chief after his side won just two out of their opening nine NRL fixtures.