Stephen Ibbetton learns about Sam Burgess’s strategies for improving the Warrington Wolves’ situation.
“When something hasn’t worked in the past, it’s sometimes necessary to go outside the box and try something new. That must be who I am.
Sam Burgess is aware that his selection as Warrington’s head coach is unique, and he hopes that this is precisely the reason it works out.
It is necessary for the club. Remove the recent near-misses, the crushed hopes for the future, and the incessant “it’s always your year” taunts; supporters have already experienced enough agony over the previous two years on their own.
Their most recent hire, Daryl Powell, appeared to be a wise and sensible choice. He has a wealth of experience in the bank and a stellar resume that includes revitalising Castleford.
However, it turned out that he was the wrong man for the wrong team, and his tenure as manager produced only a torturous decline—in fact, he oversaw not one, but two in each of his seasons.
Before Powell, Warrington wasn’t particularly difficult. Despite consistently finishing in the top four, they have fallen in the opening round of the playoffs three times in a row under Steve Price. Their most recent Grand Final appearance came in that coach’s debut season, in 2018.
They are long gone from the run of having four appearances at Old Trafford in seven years. It’s a new era, and nearly the whole crew is new.
Another new coach has emerged, one that is fresh in practically every way. Burgess took on his first major head coaching position four years after his illustrious playing career ended abruptly.
Turning 35 next week, he will be the youngest coach in Super League and making his first return to the division since he left Bradford for the bright lights of South Sydney back in 2009.
He’s been a part of the NRL furniture for a long time, having played and assisted in the Rabbitohs, so he knows what a great set-up looks like.
Warrington received what they desired—something new and unique. What more will Burgess give them, though?
He’s keen to keep details of the play’s style under wraps, saying only, “I think it’s going to evolve as well. I’ve got a bit of an idea.”
We need to find a medium ground because the team’s preferred style of play may not align with my strategy. In a few months, ask me that question.
Evidently, Warrington needs to make some changes, but what? Following his employment, Burgess watched the conclusion of their 2023 season with great interest from a distance, and he doesn’t think a major change is necessary to get them back into the race.
“Inside is where the greatest difficulty lies. As a team, there are certain things we can do better, he claims.
“You witnessed a lot of tenacity and determination towards the end of the season. We need to clean up a few technical issues. Not a lot has changed.
“This is not where I’m come to blow stuff up. To improve it, I’ve come here. I aspire to be a leading voice as well as a fantastic sounding board.
Last season, the Wolves had a few standout players who performed above and beyond: Josh Thewlis won the competition’s young player of the year, Paul Vaughan was the most impressive Super League prop of the year, George Williams displayed some of his finest work, and Matty Ashton kept improving.
However, far too many players appeared to be much below their potential, raising important concerns. At centre, is Stefan Ratchford the best? Does Warrington require an organiser like Josh Drinkwater? Who else is delivering the knockout blow upfront?
More and more dissatisfied fans began to attack specific players, such as Powell favourites Peter Mata’utia and Greg Minikin, who have since retired, and forwards like Gil Dudson and Sam Kasiano, who will be around for another season.
Nonetheless, Burgess is innately eager to strengthen the group he has assembled rather than point out any shortcomings.
“It’s more of an all-encompassing, comprehensive strategy. What can the group improve upon? What can we all do to improve? That is the question, in my opinion, and it is for me to answer,” he declares.
“There are a few items we can clean up. Small details, little regions of effort, and some internal pressure work. However, the focus is always on the team as a whole rather than on any one person.
As usual, everyone should start over with a new coach. This covers newcomers to the club as well as those who have been hurt throughout the previous two years.
Warrington has added seven players in total, one of whom is Jordan Crowther, who was on loan from Wakefield for the last several months of the previous campaign at Halliwell Jones Stadium.
With nearly 200 NRL games between them, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Zane Musgrove—who joined from Newcastle and St George Illawarra, respectively—have supported him in the forward lines, where the Wolves have lost Tom Mikaele for the second time.
As long-serving Daryl Clark goes on to St Helens, Sam Powell and Brad Dwyer have bolstered the hooker ranks to support the developing Danny Walker. Rodrick Tai, who was signed from PNG Hunters, might provide some weight to the backline, as could young Wesley Bruines from Saints.
“The slate is blank. Burgess continues, “I can definitely work with what you saw at the end of the year from the Warrington Wolves team, regardless of what I’ve recruited and what I haven’t.”
We have a clean slate here, but going forward, we will concentrate on recruitment. Every week, there are seventeen seats available.
Burgess will collaborate closely with Gary Chambers, who has assumed the post of director of rugby when Powell left the team and temporarily led the team at the end of the previous season.
After spending his whole playing career at Warrington and serving as a coach in a variety of capacities after retiring as a player, Chambers, who is a true blue and primrose, has emerged as a key player, and he and Burgess forged a bond as soon as he was hired as coach.
Gary has been fantastic ever since that day. Simply put, I was available whenever needed, says Burgess.
“I’m an extremely ardent individual. I tried to add some weight since I felt immediately attached to the club after being appointed.
However, I also had to be practical because I was on the other side of the globe and you have to exercise caution in how much you do and do not do.
“I spent a while residing in two different time zones! I’m relieved that I’m not forced to do that anymore. Sleep was scarce throughout those four or five weeks.
Burgess is forthright enough to acknowledge that during his years away, he had not been a die-hard Super League fan before accepting the position.
You just watch the major games, a few each week, so I haven’t watched a lot of it, he continues.
However, since starting work, I’ve been watching three or four games per week. When you’re in there, you’re so focused on watching the NRL, and it’s a competitive industry.
“I’m picking things up. Do I truly understand it? No, I don’t. However, when we play the first game, I’ll be good to go.
He’s definitely “been there and done it” since his 20-year-old Super League debut. In 2014, he won the NRL Grand Final and the Clive Churchill Medal. The following year, he played for England in the rugby union World Cup, although playing a different code. In 2017, he led England to the World Cup Final in his preferred code.
However, he is aware that his athletic achievements won’t always translate to the coaching sphere.
“My coaching won’t benefit from my profile. You must carry out your duties. You have to establish a rapport with the players and earn their trust,” he explains.
“I have a positive vibe about it. However, I won’t make any audacious claims because doing so will not benefit the team or me.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead of us until the season begins, and then there will be even more hard work during the season.”
Nor does he think that his accomplishments as a player will automatically earn him respect: “For me, it’s about being authentic.”
“I refuse to remain here and act like Wayne Bennett, the former England coach under Burgess.” I am my own coach.
“Listen and learn, please. When it comes to how I want to coach, I’ll also go with my gut.
“I believe that my little experience may also work to my advantage. I’m not limited to using outdated methods.
“I have a new perspective and a new method. Additionally, my relationship with the players will be new.
Despite all the negative press lately, this is a promising team, not one that is in disarray. They obtained a tentative Grade A grade for 2024, ranking seventh among all professional teams, including the Wolves.
They are among the most active online, draw sizable crowds to a high-quality space they can call their own, and invest heavily in their success—in other words, they are just the kind of club IMG desires.
With the exception of the recently added player Martin Gleeson, who was a member of the England rugby union squad, and the retained Richard Marshall, Burgess is left to worry just about the first team’s performance.
“You can see why the club is in a great position,” Burgess continues. My attention will be on the playing section as there is still some work to be done there.
Well done, since it will require all of his focus.
