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Jon Wilkin has strange opinion on Sam Burgess appointment

Warrington Wolves often make bold decisions and parting company with former Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers coach Daryl Powell was bold enough but even more bold was the appointment of his successor: Sam Burgess.

The best British player produced in the 21st Century, he started out at Bradford Bulls but became the world’s best forward at South Sydney Rabbitohs where he became an icon winning the Man of the Match in a Grand Final win over Canterbury Bulldogs in 2014 with a broken cheekbone.

This is why some people believe it could be a master stroke from the Wolves appointing the former England international.

Though it is a risk with Burgess only a year into being an assistant coach at South Sydney.

But Jon Wilkin has said on the media that no one can truly know whether the appointment will work telling the media not to bother having their say.

“Yeah I think for Warrington, they have all the resources and have thrown a lot of money at doing well,” he said.

“I think in terms of coaches, they have a track record, they have tried those people and it hasn’t worked for them.

“The last example being Daryl Powell so I understand what they’re doing. They have appointed someone with limited experience as a coach who is a figure head and a huge ambassador for our sport.

“He has no experience, but if I was a Warrington fan I would be excited by it.

“You know what we do, in the media we are guilty if it works out it’s a great appointment and if it doesn’t it’s terrible. Let’s just see what happens because he knows enough about the game to be a good coach and he wouldn’t take the job if he wasn’t confident he could do it.”

Burgess will join the Wire for the 2024 Super League season having agreed a two-year contract.

Following his retirement from a decorated playing career in 2019, Burgess has transitioned into the coaching set-up at South Sydney Rabbitohs, currently working as an Assistant Coach for the NRL side.

Burgess is one of the most renowned and respected leaders in the global game. The former England captain famously led the Rabbitohs to the 2014 NRL title, being awarded the Clive Churchill Medal despite suffering a broken cheekbone in the opening minute.

He represented England and Great Britain on 26 occasions during his playing career and captained the national team to the World Cup Final in 2017 under the stewardship of Wayne Bennett.

As part of the review of the Rugby department, Gary Chambers will be promoted to Director of Rugby. He will have an overarching responsibility for the Rugby department from first team downwards.

Chambers will remain in interim charge for the remainder of the 2023 season before taking up the new role.

Richard Marshall will remain as Assistant Coach with a further update about a second Assistant to be announced in due course.

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