Sam Burgess confirmed as new Warrington Wolves head coach with length of deal revealed

Warrington Wolves have appointed England and NRL legend Sam Burgess as their new head coach from 2024, the man chosen to succeed Daryl Powell at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

34-year-old Burgess has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Wire, sealing a return from Australia where he has been working as an assistant coach with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Dewsbury-born Burgess was a utility forward in his own playing career, spending four seasons with Bradford Bulls before heading to ‘Oz’ with the Rabbitohs ahead of 2010.

Playing over 180 games for the Sydney-based outfit across two stints, the first ended in 2014 on a high with an NRL Grand Final victory which saw Burgess named the man of the match despite suffering a broken cheekbone early on.

After a brief spell in rugby union with Bath in which he was an Aviva Premiership runner-up, the forward would return to the Rabbitohs as the highest paid rugby league player of all time in 2015.

Captaining England in the 2017 World Cup final, he’s also represented Great Britain and the NRL All Stars. The incoming Warrington boss retired in 2019 through injury, named in the NRL Team of the Decade, and has remained with the Rabbitohs – for whom he was a three-time player of the year – in a coaching capacity since.

Gary Chambers will oversee proceedings at Warrington until the end of the season. He will then be promoted to Director of Rugby, while Richard Marshall will remain at the HJS as one of two assistant coaches to Burgess. The second of those is yet to be confirmed.

Sam Burgess on becoming head coach of Warrington Wolves

Speaking to the club’s website, the new boss admitted his appointment was a big landmark in his career.

Burgess said: “I’m pleased to confirm I will take on the role of Head Coach at the Warrington Wolves for seasons 24/25.

“From playing in the Super League to having the opportunity to lead an incredible club, it’s a full circle moment and one I am fully committed to and excited by.

“I 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 [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 to do so alongside our current staff and squad, is my focus.”

The Rabbitohs currently sit 8th in the NRL, and are clinging onto the last available play-off spot with points difference the only thing keeping them above Parramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboys at present. They have just three regular season games to go before the cut off.

Warrington chairman ‘thrilled’ to bring in RL legend

In the same statement on the club website, Wolves chairman Stuart Middleton discussed Burgess’ appointment. He says it’s an exciting one for all involved.

“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.”

Currently on a seven-game losing streak, with six of those coming in Super League, Warrington are far from certain of their own  spot in the play-offs this term yet. They’re clinging onto a spot in the top six, with six matches left to play before those play-offs come around.

The Wire haven’t won a piece of silverware since the 2019 Challenge Cup.

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