Sam Burgess aims to make Warrington proud after surprise appointment as boss
SAM Burgess hopes to bring the pride back to Warrington after seeing how disappointed the town is in its rugby league club’s fortunes.
The England icon has arrived from Australia to take charge of the Wolves after being an assistant coach at NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he enjoyed a stellar playing career.
And after the big spending side just squeezed into Super League’s play-offs before losing in the first round at St Helens – in a turbulent season that saw Daryl Powell sacked – Burgess admitted impressions on a trip 18 months ago hit home.
He said: “I was in Warrington maybe 18 months ago doing a couple of talks and I could sense there was a bit of disappointment through the town.
“I think Warrington deserves better – that was my reasoning, plus a bit of self-belief. I know what club’s capable of. It’s a big challenge am we’ve a lot of work to do but a great one.
“It’s an opportunity with a great club and there are some very passionate people involved.
“You can see why the club’s in a great position, it needs a bit of work to be done in playing department and that’ll be my focus.
“My idea might not fit what the team will want to play like, so will have to find middle ground.
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“But it’s a clean slate. Regardless of what I’ve recruited, what you saw at the back end of the season was a team with spirit and I can certainly work with that.”
Burgess admits his rookie appointment took a bit of ‘bravery’ and ‘courage’ from Warrington’s bosses as well as an admission of, ‘What’s been happening in the past probably hasn’t worked.’
But as he prepares to welcome the club’s younger players to training, he insists he will do everything he can to be a success.
Burgess added: “Sometimes you’ve got to step outside the box and try something different. I guess that’s me.
“I won’t let guys down for employing me. The pros outweigh the cons and if this place is in a better position when I move on, that’s success to me.
“I’m not coming here to blow this place up. I’m coming here to make it better.”