But there was a predictable barrage of criticism following the 50-year-old's appointment last February.

Even though Waite holds a British passport, courtesy of his father being born in Leicester, Hall of Famers Alex Murphy and Roger Millward slated his selection.

Garry Schofield and Malcolm Reilly - former Great Britain captain and coach respectively - were not happy men either.

Yet Waite is no stranger to the Rugby Football League set-up, having joined the organisation as a technical director following a spell as a coaching co-ordinator in 2000.

And he is relishing taking on his fellow countrymen and hopefully steering Britain to their first Ashes win for 31 years.

"I love challenges and this is a big one," he said.

"I am under no illusion about the task. I'm not worried about the past, only the future, but the buck stops with me.

"I don't have a crystal ball but I have confidence in the future of the game in this country."

Waite has experienced Ashes success as a player, winning six caps as a winger for Australia.

Injury forced his premature retirement, but he was not about to turn his back on the game.

He turned to coaching and built a reputation as a man with a good technical grasp of the game.

After a spell with Newcastle Knights, he went on to guide St George-Illawarra to the Australian championship final in 1999.

He was reportedly offered the job as New Zealand coach in 2000 but instead came to Britain to work on the RFL's nine-year World Class Plan.

The former schoolteacher, who combines the role of coach with that of technical director, sees his administrational skills as being one of his main attributes.

"I've been an advocate of planning - that's one of my strengths," he said.

Part of his role will be to pinpoint a British-born coach to succeed him when his contract expires in 2004.

Brian Noble is already the favourite.

The Bradford Bulls coach is one of Waite's assistants for the forthcoming Ashes series.

But for the moment, the Australian is in charge.

And who better to plot the downfall of the world champions than one of their very own?