Even amid all the incredible young talent coming through at Warrington Wolves, head coach Sam Burgess remains one of the most valuable assets with the club’s director of rugby speaking to just how important the former NRL star is to Wire’s plan.
Warrington have begun to really invest in their youth and that’s already paying dividends with stars such as Ewan Irwin and Cai Taylor-Wray just two of several that have come through the Wolves’ system and look set to be mainstays in the team for a long time.
Director of rugby Gary Chambers has spoken on The Bench podcast about why head coach Sam Burgess is so important in that process, given his shared experience with those developing stars.
Chambers explained: “Sam has a unique ability because in his formative years as a 17 or 18-year-old, he was highly regarded and played at a high level, so that really resonates with our young players.
“He’s able to communicate with them because he’s been there with them but he’s also able to conduct his affairs with senior players and link those two together.
“That, and his role and what he’s done in that, has been massive.”
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Warrington Wolves boss on value of Sam Burgess amid contract questions
Not only is young talent taking to the field, Wire are bedding those players in and remaining highly competitive, something that is not always possible but Chambers hopes it’s something that can continue for years to come, despite the fact Burgess is currently off-contract.
“For us, he’s very important and hopefully we can get that (his contract) sorted soon and have it put to bed and then done,” Chambers said, before explaining why Burgess remains so critical to the long-term development side of things, as well as the supplementary recruitment.
“(He’s) absolutely massive for us, because like I say, at this moment in time it fits unbelievably well,” Chambers argued.
“We’ve got this crop of young men, then another crop of young men, and I want year upon year upon year of success.
“When I’m speaking to a player, they don’t want to speak to me. If we’re interviewing players or if we go to Australia to speak with people, they want to speak to him. He still has that link there.”
That link has seen players such as Brodie Croft sign up for 2027 whilst the development side of things has ensured that Ewan Irwin will be ready to pair up with him in the halves, Burgess being core to both player’s being in that position to play in 2027.
