Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC and Hull KR have all pulled off major signings for next year.
Leeds have drafted Lachie Miller, Wigan have signed former Huddersfield Giants hooker Kruise Leeming, Hull FC have signed Herman Ese’ese and Hull KR have moved for Oliver Gildart and Peta Hiku.
Looking at Warrington specifically, the Wolves beat off a number of rivals to the signing of Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
They have been linked with a huge move for Tom Burgess and Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam.
But these major signings have been rumoured because of the arrival of Sam Burgess as head coach and it seems that Burgess is set to spearhead some exciting recruitment.
“Oh yeah, he’s all over it, he’s all over it. Because it’s Sam as well, that’s only going to be beneficial for us as well,” Gary Chambers said.
“People would want to play for him as well because you know what sort of guy he is, that means a lot to rugby league players.
“He’s interested about what we’ve got currently, what we’ve got in our youth system coming through, which is vital, you know.
“I’ve said it time and time again, we’ll only improve when we load from underneath and get the right people up for the right value and that’s how this global flourish and he’s really interested in what we’ve got coming below and he’s really interested in what we’ve got in here now and he’s really interested in what we need to bring in to sort of finish it off.”
Burgess has been released this week from South Sydney Rabbitohs in a huge shock.
Now Chambers has had his say on the situation: “No, he was on this morning and he said he’s got a bit going on, but he’s not going into it. To be honest I’m not that interested in that. He knows he’s got to separate what’s happening there with what we’re doing here.
“So I’ve spoken to him, but he said it’s just there’s a lot of journalism stuff that I can’t sort of comprehend what we’re here. And it’s a whole different ballgame over there about the size of the game and the stories that people are trying to get.
“So yeah, he just said, look, he’s dealing with it, he’ll sort it. He’s not really gone into it with me. It’s more about what the team’s doing in that.”
He also said the situation could allow Burgess to refresh himself:
“His partner’s due to have a baby soon and that impacts on travel and stuff like that; so at the moment nothing changes.
“I suppose it gives him a bit of an opportunity to freshen up a little bit and get himself ready for when he comes here which is a real high pressure job as well, so there’s no plans to be honest. I haven’t really spoken to him that much about about it because it’s still unfolding.”
There has been speculation that Burgess could now take over at Warrington straight away.
Chambers has had his say:
“I would say it’s unlikely. I don’t know. Like I said, I think it’s unlikely. Would I like to see him over? Yeah, absolutely I would; that’d be great but do I know that it’s going to happen? I don’t think so, he’s got a lot to deal with over there at the moment and getting things sorted.
“What I think he might do is accelerate things up a little bit in helping him get sorted and you know, I think you said he was on about October when he was coming out and he’s not on about changing his plans.
“He doesn’t go into it, he’s really good that way, he’s just all about the team, and then there’s what we’re hearing now, well he’ll be in bed now won’t he, so I won’t hear anything until probably tomorrow again and I don’t ask him because he’s probably sick of hearing about it. He just wants to know about the team, what we’re doing here, where do we go on this.
“He’s pretty good at compartmenting what’s going on.”
