Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess has spoken candidly about the adversity that has shaped his life and career, as he prepares for his second season in charge. The 36-year-old former rugby league star, who also had a brief stint in rugby union, reflected on the death of his father from motor neurone disease when he was a teenager, and the intense scrutiny he faced during the breakdown of his first marriage in 2020.
Burgess guided Warrington to third place in Super League and the Challenge Cup final in his debut season as head coach. However, he admitted to initial self-doubt when offered the role. 'I felt on my own and didn't know if my methodology and philosophy would stick,' he said. That doubt faded quickly with the support of his coaching team, including Gary Chambers and Martin Gleeson.
Looking ahead to the new campaign, which begins on Sunday away to Huddersfield Giants, Burgess said he has 'higher expectations' after narrowly missing the grand final last season. He also highlighted the challenge of coaching players older than himself, noting that he is still learning to balance closeness with authority.
For Burgess, the hardest part of coaching is seeing players get injured, and he admits he 'hates losing' even more as a coach than as a player. Nevertheless, he tries to move on quickly to avoid spreading negativity through the squad. The match against Huddersfield will be a family affair, as his younger brother Thomas is set to make his debut for the Giants.
