Warrington Wolves star on club’s ‘tough’ 2025 amid Sam Burgess ‘leader of men’ claim

Warrington Wolves forward Paul Vaughan has spoken about the club’s “tough time” in 2025 and assessed Sam Burgess’ coaching style, labelling him a “leader of men”.

The 2024 season was Burgess’ first as a head coach in Super League with his only previous head coaching gig coming at a lower level in Australia, as well as his role as an assistant with South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Despite taking over a team who had collapsed in 2023 and limped into the play-offs, Burgess oversaw a transformation of Warrington Wolves with his side boasting the best defence in Super League, reaching the Challenge Cup Final, and narrowly missing out on a spot in the Grand Final.

It was Hull KR who denied Warrington a spot in the Grand Final and the sides will meet again for Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final with Burgess looking for his first piece of silverware as a coach.

Warrington might have made the final but they’ve struggled in Super League and prop forward Paul Vaughan has spoken about the club’s “tough time” when appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ The Bench Podcast.

“Plenty of time” as Warrington Wolves man backs club to get it right in 2025

Injury issues have certainly contributed to those struggles with Wire sat in eighth at the time of writing and ninth at the time of Vaughan speaking, as he expressed: “It’s a bit of a tough time at the minute, I was looking at the physio board today and we’ve got probably half the team out but we’ve got good depth.

“We’re obviously not where we want to be at the moment in the league.”

Despite that, he called for calm as he reiterated that less than half of the season has been played so far.

“It’s a long season so there’s plenty of time,” argued the 34-year-old.

“We’re not sitting where we want to be sitting at the moment but the ladder is so close. If you string a couple of games together then you’re right back up in the top six.

“It’s not panic stations at the moment. We know what we’re capable of and we’re keen to show that as well.”

‘Calm’ Sam Burgess’ coaching style praised

Another reason why Vaughan might be so calm over Warrington’s current league position is the influence of his head coach, Sam Burgess, who Vaughan explained to be “a calm voice” in the dressing room.

Vaughan explained: “When things get erratic, he’s a really nice calm voice who gives the boys a lot of confidence.

“Last year when we were winning of games, I wouldn’t say it was easy but it was smooth sailing. This year has been a little bit more testing but he’s been great, he hasn’t really lost his head.

“We’re confident in the structures that we have within the team and when we get those boys back, we’ll be okay.”

Whilst in the NRL, Vaughan came up against Burgess and despite the pair having just two years age difference, Vaughan applauded the Englishman’s leadership.

He said: “I really look up to Sammy, playing against him back home he was always a tough competitor. He’s just a great leader of men, because he’s so calm and is a cool head, he’s easy to follow.”