Sam Burgess is set to lead Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final against Wakefield Wildcats at Old Trafford. The 37-year-old, regarded as one of rugby league's most talented players of his era, moved into coaching after retiring from playing and has steered the side to third place in his debut campaign before reaching the Challenge Cup final the following year, though they fell short against Hull KR.
Coaching career and trophy drought
Since assuming control of Warrington in 2023, Burgess has his sights set on claiming silverware and bringing an end to the Wolves' 71-year trophy drought. Their opponents are surprise finalists, Wakefield Wildcats.
Regardless of the outcome, it will mark another intriguing chapter in Burgess' career, which has seen his on-field excellence occasionally overshadowed by off-field controversies.
'Sexting scandal' and affair admission
In 2018, while representing Australian outfit South Sydney Rabbitohs, Burgess became embroiled in an alleged 'sexting scandal' after claims emerged that he had sent explicit images to a woman via Facebook. The accusation triggered an investigation by both his club and Australia's National Rugby League (NRL), whose integrity unit questioned the woman.
She refused to be questioned by a five-person club panel, and Burgess was ultimately exonerated of any misconduct. When an emotional Burgess addressed the press, he expressed gratitude to his then-wife, Phoebe, and family for their support and stated that he was "happy for the truth to come out".
In 2021, Burgess discussed his "embarrassment" as he confessed to being unfaithful to Phoebe. During an appearance on SAS Australia, he told host Ant Middleton: "I embarrassed my wife and had an affair with a girl, a woman, in Melbourne. That's true. I was away on tour and regretfully it happened. It would have been a tough place for Phoebe to be."
Personal struggles and rehabilitation
The infidelity resulted in his split from Phoebe, with whom he shares two children, Poppy and Billy. He continued: "When it came to emotional stuff – losing my two kids after seeing them every day, my marriage breakdown – that put pressure on my ex-wife. I didn't like that. I hate that I caused pain for other people that I couldn't manage."
Following the separation, an apprehended violence order was issued against Burgess on behalf of his then father-in-law, Mitchell Hooke. Burgess was found guilty of intimidation but subsequently had his conviction overturned on appeal.
Burgess spiralled after being forced to retire from playing in 2019 due to septic arthritis in his left shoulder. By that stage, he had started coaching with the Rabbitohs but resigned amid examination of his private life and personal difficulties. In early 2021, he was detained by police for driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a valid licence and failing a roadside drug test.
He explained to Middleton: "I was coaching and we started to do well. But a lot of things were put in the press by my ex-wife and ex-father-in-law. Consequently, I had to stand down from both my roles, so I lost it all again. Since then, there was a police investigation into me about some behaviour that she has claimed. In that time, I totally lost myself a bit. I turned to drinking, I was taking drugs. It got to the point where I got pulled [over by police] with drugs in my system. It was all over the press again and she stopped me seeing my kids again. I checked myself into rehab. I have lost it all."
New marriage and family life
Beyond his emerging coaching career, off-the-pitch matters are equally positive for Burgess, who married his new wife Lucy in Rome in 2024. The pair, who share two children together, are expecting their third child in early next year.
Meanwhile, ex-wife Phoebe has recently revealed that she hasn't been romantically involved with anyone since her split from Burgess and that she plans to retain his surname. She told the Something To Talk About show: "My life isn't overly app attractive. What photo would I pick? The kids and me at school drop-off? Me at an event? There's not one photo. I would judge any man who would click on my profile, put it that way. I would really ask questions. And then the bio: 37, divorced, everyone knows about it. Uh, two children. I don't get weekends off, ever, so you'll have to work around that. And I live at home [with her parents]. There's nothing appealing in that."
