Warrington Wolves hunt for a new head coach looks like it could be coming to a head with the club having identified ex England international and current South Sydney Rabbitohs assistant coach Sam Burgess as their lead candidate.
That’s what the Sydney Morning Herald are reporting anyway with Burgess having made Souths aware of his interest in taking up a role at the Halliwell Jones.
However there is a twist though and that is because the deal that both Burgess and Warrington are looking at is for the recently retired prop to take charge at the end of the season, and lead the Wire into the 2024 campaign.
After Daryl Powell’s sacking a week ago today it was believed that Warrington officials headed down under in their search for a replacement head coach with the frontrunner being ex St Helens boss Justin Holbrook.
Over the course of the week negotiations continued with Holbrook to the point where he accepted a deal and had flights booked per Sky Sports’ Brian Carney, but Holbrook negated on the deal and explained to The Daily Telegraph how close he was.
“I was close to heading back to England because I like the idea of being a head coach, but it just didn’t feel right.
“Obviously, having a great time and success at St Helens and then going to a rival club, but that wasn’t the pure decision.
“I was thinking that way, heading to Warrington to be a head coach, but there was a bit of interest back here and I’ve worked with Robbo before and see an opportunity to help him there to try to get them back up to the top.”
And so the search continued and the shock frontrunner was reported to be Sam Burgess with the Herald now confirming that both he and Warrington are keen on the deal.
The Herald state: “Warrington have opened negotiations with Burgess for the head coaching role next year, and he is the frontrunner for the job.”
It would be a huge decision by the officials at the Halliwell Jones to back Burgess whose experience is limited.
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