Sam Burgess and Matt Peet are among the three current Super League coaches who have been tipped to make moves to the NRL in the near future.
The Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors bosses will face off in Las Vegas in early March when the NRL season launches but they’ve now been named as two potential candidates for when the next NRL axing comes.
Three NRL head coaches were sacked in the 2024 season and there was further change as Wayne Bennett handed over the keys at the Dolphins to ex-Super League boss Kristian Woolf when he joined South Sydney Rabbitohs.
In fact, a total of 13 coaches have been sacked in the past five seasons which showcases a healthy rate of turnover. Of course, some of those roles are then filled by the sacked coaches but there is a constant need for a new stream of coaches.
That could see the NRL looking to Super League, specifically the North West with both Sam Burgess and Matt Peet named on a list of candidates who could be called upon when the next NRL axing is.
Three Super League coaches including Wigan Warriors boss named on NRL shortlist
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Fox Sports have compiled a list of the coaches who could be called upon next with those on the shortlist including rising stars and veterans alike.
The Super League trio named are Warrington’s Sam Burgess, Wigan’s Matt Peet and Leeds Rhinos’ Brad Arthur, who only arrived at Headingley after being axed by Parramatta Eels in 2024.
Given that an 18th team in Papua New Guinea has been confirmed with plans for a 19th and possibly even 20th, NRL coaching gigs could become vacant very quickly.
Sam Burgess
The list is unranked but coincidentally Sam Burgess’ name does top it and it’s easy to see why he’d be a strong candidate to coach in the NRL. In his first season coaching at the elite level he guided Warrington to third-place and within touching distance of the Grand Final.
His NRL connections put him in good stead when he returns to Australia, something he has previously stated that he will do, meaning it could be a case of when and not if Burgess will coach in the NRL. That being said, he has recently signed a contract extension tying him to the club until the end of the 2026 season.
Matt Peet
Matt Peet is understandably also on the list given his incredible resume. He was previously linked with The Mole reporting that NRL clubs were ‘monitoring’ the 40-year-old. Fox Sports dub him as a ‘modern great of rugby league in the UK’ which is hard to argue against, whilst Matty Johns has previously lauded praise on him.
Johns claimed that “Peet will coach in the NRL one day”, however, it’s unclear when given that he and his coaching staff of Sean O’Loughlin and Thomas Leuluai are all tied down until the end of the 2030 season.
Brad Arthur
Perhaps the most realistic Super League coach who could take up an NRL role in the near future is Leeds Rhinos’ Brad Arthur and that comes down to his contract status. Arthur is only tied to the Headingley club until the end of the current season and has expressed his desire to return Down Under.
He’s no stranger to NRL experience after leading Parramatta for a decade and the 50-year-old has previously been touted as the sort of ideal candidate to head up a new team in either PNG or Perth, where his wife hails from, with Fox confirming that he has been linked with that possible gig.
Other names on the list familiar to Super League fans are Jason Demettriou, ex-Wakefield Trinity player and recent Souths coach, as well as Matt King and Justin Holbrook.
