Slammin' Sam Burgess hailed his “full circle” moment after becoming Warrington Wolves’ new boss.
The ex-England captain, 34, has signed a two-year deal from 2024 - his first professional head coach gig. But it also marks the South Sydney assistant’s return to Betfred Super League after a 15-year absence. Burgess shot to fame as a towering forward with Bradford before Russell Crowe’s Souths forked out big money to take him Down Under in 2009.
The Yorkshireman became a huge hit with Souths famously inspiring them to the NRL title five years later before an ill-fated cross-code move to rugby union. However, following Daryl Powell’s sacking a little over a week ago, dual-code international Burgess now returns home as a coach. He said: “From playing in the Super League to having the opportunity to lead an incredible club, it’s a full circle moment and one I’m fully committed to and excited by.
“I’m delighted and want to thank Simon [Moran], Stuart [Middleton] and Karl [Fitzpatrick] at the Wolves for their courage and collaboration, as I look forward to returning to England to coach this great club. To Russell [Crowe], Blake [Solly], JD [Jason Demetriou] and the stakeholders at South Sydney, thank you for supporting me in taking on this new position. We still have an opportunity to play some great football for the remainder of the year and that’s my focus.”
Warrington say as part of the review of their rugby department, Gary Chambers - the head of youth who is currently interim head coach - will be promoted to director of rugby in 2024. He remains in interim charge for the remainder of this season and assistant Richard Marshall also stays on. Warrington will employ a second assistant, with ex-Great Britain scrum-half Sean Long potentially coming into the reckoning after he was today surprisingly sacked as head coach of Championship leaders Featherstone.
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Wolves initially wanted ex-St Helens chief Justin Holbrook as their next head coach after former Castleford boss Powell’s tenure ended in a mess. However, Holbrook turned them down at the last moment to take up an offer to be a Sydney Roosters assistant so Warrington switched their attention to Burgess. He has no top-flight experience as a head coach but the Super League club - who won the first eight games under Powell this season but went on to lose eight of their last nine before his axing - reckon the talismanic former wrecking ball is just what they need.
Sam Burgess is back (Getty Images)Warrington chairman Stuart Middleton said: “We’re thrilled to have Sam join us as our new Head Coach. He is an impressive, young and determined coach with a huge reputation within the sport. He was a leader for both club and country at the highest level throughout his playing career and is extremely well-driven to now make his mark as a coach in Super League.
“The ambition he has for the club and the culture he wants to instil really impressed and stood out for us during the interview process. We firmly believe he is the right man to take the club forward. We’re delighted also that Gary [Chambers] has agreed to become the club’s Director of Rugby.
"As part of our review of the rugby operations we feel this new role will be strategically integral to both the short and long term vision of the club. Gary’s expertise and knowledge of the game, matched by his passion for the club, makes him the perfect fit. He is hugely respected by the players, staff and fans and I’m excited for him to lead the club forward alongside Sam in this next chapter.”
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