The Great Britain coach holds a British passport but is in fact an Australian.
The appointment of a foreigner was met with disgust by many in the game, but if he can put one over his compatriots he will appease the doubters and delight the fans.
After his short playing career was stopped by injury in 1978, Waite turned his hand to coaching.
Following a short spell with the Newcastle Knights he took the St George Illawarra Dragons to the NRL final in 1999.
International rugby was next on the agenda and having turned down the job of New Zealand coach he joined the RFL as a coaching consultant.
Now the top job is his and the hardest test awaits - Waite is relishing the Ashes.
