Since Daryl Powell’s sacking on Sunday night there’s been questions all week about who will be next in line at Warrington Wolves, particularly after former St Helens boss Justin Holbrook rejected the move, but now there is a clear favourite and it’s Sam Burgess!
It was reported earlier on that Burgess was in line to be considered with the Daily Telegraph leading with the line that Burgess was among the names ‘headlining’ Warrington’s list.
However after being priced at 25/1 earlier in the morning, the bookmakers have slashed the odds of Burgess being at the Halliwell Jones to just 5/4, almost even money.
That’s the market being provided by the Super League’s official betting sponsor Betfred, who had previously placed Salford coach Paul Rowley as joint favourite alongside former St George Illawarra Dragons man Anthony Griffin,
Burgess is currently an assistant coach at South Sydney Rabbitohs, the club where he became an NRL legend, but it seems that Warrington are heating up their pursuit of the former England forward given this drastic change in price.
The Mole of Wide World of Sports also tweeted the news of the huge shift in the markets.
The bookies' new favourite for the @WarringtonRLFC coaching gig?
That man @SamBurgess8 !!! pic.twitter.com/yDpih2AXIu— The Mole (@9_Moley) August 4, 2023
Justin Holbrook had been the man top of Warrington’s list but he has rejected them after being tabled what was reported by Andrew Voss as a lucrative offer, in favour of staying in the NRL and instead signing to coach the Sydney Roosters.
Now it’s the man who is working at the Roosters big rivals in Sam Burgess who has been made the heavy favourite.
It would be his first role as head coach and he would have a major task on his hands to turn around a run of form that features just three wins in twelve, culminating in a six game losing streak and a hammering from bottom of the table Wakefield Trinity.
Paul Rowley has retained his price from earlier on at 3/1 whilst Justin Holbrook, who has rejected the club to stay in Australia with his family is still priced up albeit at 50/1.
England boss Shaun Wane has jumped in from 8/1 to 6/1 with the confirmation of Holbrook turning the club down, but it’s former England prop Sam Burgess who dominates the market as 5/4 favourite.
Below is a list of the current market prices per Betfred, correct as of 11:58 am on August 4th.
Sam Burgess – 5/4
Paul Rowley – 3/1
Adam O’Brien – 9/2
Anthony Griffin – 9/2
Shaun Wane – 6/1
John Morris – 8/1
Michael Monaghan – 8/1
Michael Maguire – 12/1
Lee Briers – 16/1
Brett Hodgson – 20/1
Richard Agar – 20/1
Tony Smith – 25/1
Brian McDermott – 25/1
Justin Morgan – 25/1
Ian Watson – 33/1
Richard Marshall – 40/1
Steve Price – 50/1
Justin Holbrook – 50/1
John Kear – 100/1
