Warrington Wolves Chairman explains Sam Burgess appointment

Warrington Wolves shocked the world when they replaced former Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell with Sam Burgess.

Burgess started his career at the Bradford Bulls and quickly made his England debut and then earned a huge NRL move to join South Sydney Rabbitohs.

He became an icon of the club and his reputation peaked when he won the Man of the Match in the 2014 Grand Final with a broken cheekbone as the Bunnies won the title.

Whilst at Souths he developed into perhaps the best forward on the planet and he has been acting as assistant coach at the club this year so Warrington will be his first Head Coach role which is why some have been critical of the appointment.

Now Chairman Stuart Middleton has explained the decision.

“We’ve got to try something different,” Middleton told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“We’ve been there, we’ve tried that [with more experienced coaches] and it’s not worked. In business you have to take risks and it’s a calculated risk – what have we got to lose?”

“On the coaching side he probably doesn’t have as much experience.

He’s been doing it [coaching] now for the last three years and the last year at the higher level.

“He has got some experience, and being a head coach is not just about your ruck skills, it’s about leadership, management and getting the best out of the players.

“He’s not been long off playing so he knows what it’s about, he can engage with young people, he can deal with elite athletes, and he’s motivational so he ticks a lot of boxes.”

He also spoke about Gary Chambers’ new role.

“He’s had an all-encompassing role,” Middleton said of Chambers.

“He’ll oversee all the coaching, the youth system which is important to us in terms of generating our own players – so all the way from the bottom to the top.

“He’ll challenge the coaches, he’s experienced, a good leader and he’s very passionate and cares about the club.

“It’s a big job now, retention and recruitment, working with all the pieces of the jigsaw and making it fit together.”