Sam Burgess not the right man to lead Warrington Wolves; Super League side need a coach with a ‘proven track record’ says pundit
Sam Burgess and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Cody Walker during a training session at the Heffron Centre in Sydney. Photo by AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.
Warrington Wolves need to appoint a head coach with a proven track record and experience, not Sam Burgess.
That’s according to recently retired wheelchair rugby league star and Sky Sports pundit James Simpson.
Former England and South Sydney Rabbitohs loose forward Burgess is reportedly the new frontrunner to land the vacant Warrington job following Justin Holbrook’s decision to remain in the NRL.
The Australian coach, who won the 2019 Super League Grand Final with St Helens, rejected a move to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, instead opting to sign a three-year deal with Sydney Roosters as assistant coach under Trent Robinson from 2024.
Burgess, 34, has since been priced as the new favourite to take over Warrington following the departure of Daryl Powell.
The premiership-winning forward joined Jason Demetriou’s South Sydney Rabbitohs backroom staff as an assistant ahead of the 2023 NRL campaign, and has previously shared his ambitions of landing a head coaching role in the future.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Warrington have opened negotiations with the former dual-code England international with the Rabbitohs preparing to lose one of their assistants at the end of the year.
Sam Burgess not the right man, says Simpson
However, former Leeds Rhinos and England Wheelchair star Simpson believes Warrington need a more experienced coach to take over.
Simpson, who announced his retirement at the start of this year after an outstanding 10-year career, was a guest on Sky Sports ahead of Leeds’ Super League home clash with Leigh at Headingley Stadium.
Asked by host Brian Carney if Burgess was the right man for the job, Simpson responded: “They need someone so proven I think.
“You heard about Justin Holbrook, he did wonders over here.
“Sam Burgess is a leader of men. He’s one of the best players this country has ever delivered.
“But he’s not ready to take charge of a team like Warrington.
“They need somebody with an absolutely proven track record.”
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