Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess adds fuel to fire with latest NRL comments

Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess has added fuel to the fire in respect to reports linking him with the upcoming Perth Bears job.

A new NRL club based in Perth has been green-lit with official confirmation of the project set to land in the coming weeks and the news has seen plenty of conversation about who will coach the NRL’s 18th team.

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur, who has made no secret of his desire to return to the NRL, is viewed as the front-runner with a recent report stating that a $5.5 million deal was on the table.

Arthur has silenced those reports but one man who has also been linked and has spoken about his interest in the role is Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess.

The Englishman left South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2023 where he had been an assistant coach and has coached Warrington since the start of 2024, overseeing a strong first season where they made the Challenge Cup Final and the Super League sem-finals.

It’s been a slower start for Wire this year but that’s not stopped the talk of Burgess making a move to the NRL and after speaking to the English media last week, he’s now spoken more on the prospect of the Perth job to Australian media.

Sam Burgess throws hat in the ring for Perth Bears role

The Sydney Morning Herald have spoken with Sam Burgess about the Perth Bears job, something which the Englishman has stated has “obvious appeal”.

Perth will enter the NRL in 2027 and Burgess is currently set to see his contract run out at the end of the 2026 season meaning he would be free to head Down Under from 2027.

He told the Herald: “The Perth job has obvious appeal… I’d love to be part of build a team from the ground up in a sports-rich state.”

Burgess did confirm his focus remains on Warrington, but stated: “The right people are aware of my interest, and until I hear from the people making the decision, I’ll be completely focused on my job here.”

Whilst many had viewed Brad Arthur as a near-cert for the role, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has cast doubt over that by explaining that “nothing is guaranteed”, admitting Arthur’s credentials are strong but that “nothing is finalised”.

Sam Burgess’ former coach Wayne Bennett has backed the Englishman for an NRL gig but doesn’t believe the Perth role is right for him, telling the AAP: “Of course Sam Burgess has a coaching future in the NRL but I wouldn’t want to see him go to a start-up club.

“I am sure Sam will come back to the NRL one day. Where he will come back I don’t know and he doesn’t know at this stage of his career. Sam is a great person, full stop.”