Former NRL stars Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis could lock horns as coaches on NSW north coast in 2022
Teammates in South Sydney’s last grand final win seven years ago, Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis may soon collide head-on as they look to begin their coaching careers on NSW’s north coast.
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Burgess v Inglis - bring it on.
Souths great Sam Burgess is back in rugby league and may soon collide head-on with Rabbitohs legend, Greg Inglis, on the NSW north coast
Burgess, the former English star, has been appointed head coach of the Orara Valley Axemen for 2022.
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And Burgess may well be coaching against Inglis, his ex-Rabbitohs premiership-winning teammate, who has been linked to a coaching role with Macksville.
The Orara Valley appointment will be Burgess’ first step toward his ultimate goal – coaching in the NRL.
It is understood the Axeman’s appointment will become official on Friday.
Burgess will be named head coach but locals believe the former champion forward will also play again next season.
Inglis remains in England after his stint with Warrington was cut short through injury.
He plans to return home this off-season with north coast locals are adamant the former Queensland superstar will coach Macksville, his home town.
There is also a rumour Inglis may play again in 2022.
Orara Valley Axemen has long been the local country team for Souths co-owner Russell Crowe, who lives in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour.
Crowe and Burgess are close friends.
Mates of Burgess claim a shift away from the pressure and scrutiny of Sydney will benefit the Souths’ Clive Churchill Medal winner.
Nambucca Heads’ News of the Area interviewed Burgess, who said: “I saw the opportunity as something where there’d be a lot of reward in terms of being back in the community, back at the grass roots level in the game.
“That is where we all start and where I fell in love with the game.
“The opportunity just outweighed everything else. The joy that I’ll get out of bringing what I might bring to the club and the area was something that I just couldn’t turn down.
“The number one thing is to have enjoyment.”
The Orara Valley club claims to be excited about Burgess “sharing his knowledge and passion for the game with our local community.”
Burgess was stood down as a South employee 10 months ago over allegations of drug use and domestic violence.
He was medically retired in 2019, his current contracts not expiring until the end of 2023.
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Originally published as Former NRL stars Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis could lock horns as coaches on NSW north coast in 2022
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