Warrington Wolves’ Sam Burgess linked with NRL job amid Wayne Bennett comments

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess is reportedly one of the coaches in the running to take charge of an NRL expansion club. The NRL will be adding two new teams to the ladder over the next three years with sides from Perth and Papua New Guinea set to enter the fray.

Both sides will be looking for a head coach to lead them into their first NRL season with Perth Bears expected to step into the competition as early as 2027. Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur is one who has been heavily linked with that job with the head coach yet to commit his future to the West Yorkshire club.

However, according to the Australian Associated Press, Burgess is one man who could be keen on the role, too, with his deal at Warrington set to expire at the end of next season. Burgess is in his second season as a professional head coach in Super League and led Warrington to the semi-finals of the play-offs and the Challenge Cup final.

He has struggled for consistency so far this season, though, with Warrington currently sitting eighth in the table. However, it is claimed Burgess’ presence in the NRL might be a carrot for international players, such as those from Super League, with clubs looking to the Northern Hemisphere as a way of expanding the current talent pool.

Burgess does have some experience of coaching in the NRL and worked under Jason Demetriou at South Sydney Rabbitohs as an assistant before taking over at Warrington. He’s a Souths legend, of course, having played 270 games in red and green and the club’s current boss Wayne Bennett has spoken about the possibility of Burgess returning to the NRL.

Bennett believes Burgess is destined to make the move back to Australia eventually, but he has warned the 36-year-old about the dangers of joining up with a franchise side.

Wayne Bennett speaks out on Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess

“Of course Sam Burgess has a coaching future in the NRL but I wouldn’t want to see him go to a start-up club,” Bennett said, per AAP. “I am sure Sam will come back to the NRL one day.

“Where he will come back I don’t know and he doesn’t know at this stage of his career. Sam is a great person, full stop.”

He added: “The problem with a franchise club is that most blokes aren’t going to make it in coaching. Simple as that. If you look at the franchise clubs you will see how many have made it. It sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere.

“You have got to have really good management behind you because they have got to stick with you in tough times. The Warriors, Gold Coast and Cowboys have had a lot of coaches.

“It’s an extremely tough gig and it’s not something I would recommend for anyone to take up.

“Brad Arthur might do a good job. They all do good jobs but it is all about bringing a team together. Everyone wants results. If you haven’t got them in two or three years you are not much chance of surviving.”