Sam Burgess takes his first senior head coaching job at Warrington Wolves. Photo: Getty Images/Olly Hassell
Sam Burgess stands at the entrance. hotel hall at Halliwell Jones Stadium. Tall, wide and about the size of a doorway, he looks like he should be playing for Warrington Wolves when Super League kicks off this weekend, rather than coaching them.
However, it will be from the stands that Burgess will make his presence known as a new chapter in his epic story begins at Catalans Dragons on Saturday.
Never afraid to prove himself, he has never been afraid to prove himself. One of English rugby's most charismatic and controversial figures has left his assistant job at the South Sydney Rabbitohs — the NRL club where he became a superstar — to return home to become a head coach.
It doesn't matter that he's only 35 years old.
“I was actually 34 when I got the job,” corrected Burgess, who is younger than Warrington defender Stefan Ratchford.
“I was finishing my training at Souths and it just came up. A lot of people told me to take a little more time, but Wayne Bennett told me, “Go do it.” This is the only way to learn.» It was a sliding door moment.
“It wasn’t the plan, but it was a great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone. Long term, I wanted to be a head coach and I thought that was what I needed. This is such a great club.”
Burgess is the youngest head coach in the professional game. Photo: Getty Images/Steve Flynn
He was training with the team the morning we met. He still runs and works out in the gym, but contact is a no-no. Slammin days Sam is long gone.
«I really struggled without any purpose or aspiration»
It has been four and a half years since Burgess retired due to a shoulder injury, a period in his career. a life characterized by chaos.
His initial coaching project with the Rabbitohs stalled when he was suspended following a barrage of damaging allegations from his ex-wife Phoebe and father-in-law Mitchell Hook as he fought to clear his name .
He describes the situation he found himself in as being described as «horrifying»: Hooke's intimidation conviction was eventually overturned and no charges were laid over Phoebe's domestic violence claims. However, Burgess was found guilty of driving with cocaine in his system, after which he spent four weeks in a rehab clinic.
This was the moment when he admits that he felt left out and adrift.
“When I first retired, I had a hard time. I had no purpose or drive and I really struggled with it,” he said.
“For so much of my life, for many years, I have had a sense of belonging to a group and being responsible. It went away almost instantly.
“The time I was away from the game, I was just completely lost. I don't find many things difficult, but I found it very difficult to cope with this period. I didn't make good decisions.
“I didn't know how to deal with it emotionally. I didn't understand what I was feeling. This is something I wasn't prepared for. I had to go and spend a lot of time working on myself and understanding those feelings and emotions that young men really don't have that much of. 1am via video link to another Australian court to defend himself after being charged with driving with a suspended licence. Those charges were dropped.
“Now everything is done and cleaned up. I don’t know whether I was targeted or not, but in the end common sense prevailed,” he said.
“In any case, I already started a new life there, but this is a new opportunity. with responsibility and purposefulness.”
There are difficulties with switching hemispheres. Although he has new partner Lucy and baby Robbie, his two children from his first marriage, Poppy, 7, and Billy, 5, are back in Australia.
“The only thing left made me want to go back to where my family is. “I miss the children,” he said.
“Everything else is great. I loved absolutely everything: coming back from the cold weather, a change of home and a different lifestyle.»
Burgess is living in the UK for the first time after his tumultuous year in rugby union, in which he became the scapegoat for England's relegation from the 2015 World Cup at the pool stage.
England failed the 2015 World Cup on home soil, crashing out of the group stage. Photo: Reuters/Stefan Wermuth
His reflections on these times are rosier than many might have expected.
“I actually had a great time in rugby union and had some success. People might laugh at this, but I played in a Premier League final for Bath against a “highly paid” Saracens side and made the World Cup squad. I had to work as hard as I could to do it,” he said.
“I represented my country and felt I contributed something to the game of rugby. I think a lot of people will disagree with this, but when you look at it, I was happy.
“We won the two warm-up games that I played, and then at the World Cup, in which I played against Fiji, we won and then I started against Wales. After 70 minutes we won. Then I walked off the field and we lost!
“For many people, that game against Wales seems like the stumbling block of my time in the union, but I learned a lot.
“I was surrounded by great coaches who have had amazing careers. publish this world championship.
“Racing's Stuart Lancaster is probably the current coach of world rugby, Andy Farrell is the current Lions coach, Mike Catt is from Ireland and Graham Rowntree is from Munster. They are the best coaches and I took everything they said on board.
“I really enjoyed the game of rugby. I still think so.”
“Andy Farrell would be a great role model.”
Could he one day consider joining a coaching union like Farrell?
“Never say never,” he said. “Although it was only for a short time, I really immersed myself in understanding the game and was able to see it from both sides – as a striker and as a defender.
“Andy would be a great role model. but it's hard to compare with him. He's a great icon and a special guy.
«Also, this is only my first year as a rugby league head coach.»
Burgess takes on the tempting job of underperforming Warrington, who were plucked from mid-table last season by director of rugby Gary Chambers following the sacking of Daryl Powell.
These aspirations — at least publicly — are deliberately managed.
“I hope we will be competitive. All I ask as early as possible is to get out on the field, compete and have fun within the constraints of our structure,” he said.
“We spent a lot of time on basic skills just because they enable you to make better decisions in stressful situations. I hope you will see this in the performances.
“I'm very impressed so far. I know we haven't played a competitive game yet, but I feel like the team is in a balanced state and we can be honest with each other.
“I'm chasing improvement. Last year we finished sixth, so anything above that is good. We have a lot of things to get right to achieve this.”
Burgess' presence means all eyes will be on Holywell Jones Stadium. If a head coach can put bums in the seats — even just out of curiosity to see whether his latest venture will succeed or not — he will do so.
Yes, he brings baggage with him, but also glamor. And a little bit of Hollywood.
“Russell Crowe messaged me yesterday asking how the team looked and what the weather was like. He sent me a nice video from a tennis court in Australia,» Burgess said.
«He finished doing something mid-year — I think something with his group — so I asked him to confirm, that he will come to the game.»
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