FORMER Bulls boss Brian Noble is confident he will back in rugby league by the start of next season.

Noble was sacked by Salford Red Devils in April but is currently exploring a number of opportunities with a view to a potential return.

The 53-year-old, who remains Super League's most successful coach after guiding the Bulls to three Grand Finals wins and three World Club Challenge victories, admits his desire to work in the game remains strong.

He told the T&A: "I think there is definitely a place for me in the game somewhere next year. I've had a couple of conversations with a couple of people about certain situations.

"I'm going away for five weeks now to cover the Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand for the BBC, so I'll have plenty of thinking time there. I'll also have time to speak to people via the internet and carve out a future for myself.

"I'm confident I'll be involved in some way, shape or form in the game next year. I love the game, I've given my life to it, and hopefully something will come up.

"But there are no guarantees. You have to wait for a position to arise that appeals and sometimes you have to speak to certain people to maybe manufacture a position.

"But I'm certainly over the way things ended at Salford – that took a bit of getting over – and I've used it as a learning experience. It has reinforced my beliefs in the way things should be done."

Noble is looking forward to the forthcoming Four Nations ahead of England's opener against Samoa on Saturday.

"I love the media work, I love promoting the game and I like having an opinion because I think my track record as a player and success as a Super League coach allows me that," he said.

"But it's not the real thing compared to being actively involved in rugby league. The game has still got lots of challenges and hopefully I can be part of one of them somewhere."

On England's Four Nations hopes, Noble added: "I think they have a great chance and if they get it right, they could just sneak up and win it.

"Some of the young people need to show up and the half-back combination is vital – a lot will depend on Matty Smith and Gareth Widdop.

"But they have certainly got the artillery and we have some big lumps out there with the Burgess boys and James Graham.

"Sean O'Loughlin is a key figure and you mix that in with the younger players and there is some real excitement building.

"Getting them together in the right system is vital but I give them every chance, I really do."