Weekend Read: Why Sam Burgess’ arrival in Las Vegas brings a new level of intrigue to NRL return

Big Sam Burgess kept everyone guessing on when he would arrive in Las Vegas. He looks set to do the same when it comes to his NRL return, BRENT READ writes.

Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess’ profile almost transcends rugby league. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Big Sam Burgess kept everyone guessing on when he would arrive in Las Vegas. He looks set to do the same when it comes to his NRL return.

Burgess, doing a sterling job as coach of Super League powerhouse Warrington, insists he is in no hurry to pack his bags and return to Sydney.

If anything, the events of this week have more than likely convinced him to take his time. Before he arrived in Sin City, Burgess spent three days at a hotel near the airport in London as he waited for his visa to get approved.

In the end, he got the green light only four minutes before he was due to board a flight to Las Vegas that ensured he would be on the ground for his team’s final training session.

The saga was back-page news in Australia, a reminder that Burgess is still a story when it comes to the NRL. Now 36, Burgess has had his share of bright lights and blazing headlines over the course of his stellar career.

For the time being, he is enjoying the relative anonymity that comes with coaching in the Super League, albeit as one of the greatest athletes to have played the sport.

Burgess is still box office in England, but rugby league isn’t. So Burgess can go about his business without the prying eyes of the media following his every move.

He knows when he returns to Australia, those days will be over as his coaching career is dissected and his private life is placed under the microscope.

So forgive him for being in no hurry, even though the NRL will be calling in years to come if he continues down the path he is heading down in Super League.

“I’ve got a desire to coach in the NRL,” Burgess said.

“I’ve been pretty open about that, you know. It’s not necessarily about me testing myself against them (other coaches), it’s about me trying to achieve a goal I set out to do and whether that’s in the next two or three years or a bit longer, I don’t know.

“I’m probably not gonna rush to get into the NRL and as much as I like you guys, it’s actually quite nice in England with the freedom and there’s not a lot of external noise and pressure.

Sam Burgess mingles with punters at the NRL Fan Hub at Resorts World Las Vegas. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It’s a really nice place to be for now with a young family.”

It’s also a good place to learn the nuances and intricacies of coaching. Burgess still has a hotline to South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett - he warned against underestimating the seven-time premiership winner amid the Rabbitohs’ early season woes - and although he makes the most of it, he is also intent on walking his own path.

So far, Burgess hasn’t needed a lot of help. In a short time, he has shown enough to suggest his coaching career will mirror his brilliant playing career.

He took Warrington back to the finals last season and has them unbeaten through two games this season as they prepare for their showdown with Wigan.

“I love it,” Burgess said.

“It’s better than I thought it was gonna be. I have a bit of fun with it. In England, that is possible. There’s less of this external stuff.

“It’s more about the rugby and trying to connect with a group of players together. It’s a good place to come and learn, and try to figure out who I am as a coach.”

Asked what sort of coach he wanted to be, Burgess said: “I figured out pretty early I’ll be very authentic, I’ll be myself. That’s the only way you can try and make it work.

“I live and die by my decision making so I’ve just gotta do it my way.”

Burgess’ way seems to be working. Great players don’t always make great coaches but Burgess is willing to take his time and hone his craft.

He knows doors will eventually open. Who knows? It might even be at South Sydney, the club he inspired to a drought-breaking premiership in 2014. If not, he is open to other options.

“I’ve got this year and next year at Warrington, which I will definitely do,” Burgess said.

“I’m not sure after that what’s gonna happen, whether I stay in England or if anything pops up in Australia that we feel is the right job.”

Potentially at Souths?

Wayne Bennett and Sam Burgess.

“Listen that would be a great opportunity but it’s not necessarily my main focus,” Burgess said.

“I’m not just pigeonholed to be a coach at South Sydney. There’s a lot of opportunity and like I said, I am just waiting for the right one to come long and I’m trying to make a good decision.”

For the time being, his home is Warrington. The game in England has copped its share of setbacks in recent years but Burgess insists it is in good shape.

“There’s a longer conversation to be had (about the NRL getting involved with Super League),” Burgess said.

“But certainly I think the game would benefit from that. Because it’s an amazing product, amazing players and there’s a hotbed of league talent.

“It’s just about packaging that in the right way and making sure he gets in the right hands. You wait until Saturday, the fans will be singing like crazy.”

READ VS RICCIO: DYLAN BROWN DEBATE

TAKE THE CASH: BRENT READ

Life is short, footy careers are even shorter. It’s why I refuse to be critical of Dylan Brown as he weighs up whether to take the cash on offer at Newcastle or any other club.

Brown is on a decent wicket at the Eels but the money on the table elsewhere is life changing, not just for him but also his family.

How can he afford to turn it down? Put yourself in Brown’s boots. As much as he loves playing at Parramatta, everyone has a price.

The Knights and another unnamed club are counting on it as they look to turn themselves from top eight contenders to potential premiers.

It’s a calculated and expensive gamble because Brown isn’t the finished article. At 24, he is yet to prove he can own a team, let alone run it.

He is, however, an elite half and the Knights - or more particularly their recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan - believe he can ease the load on Kalyn Ponga and get them over the premiership hump.

Ponga has made no secret of his desire to win titles and his future is quietly brewing in the background. The Newcastle superstar is off contract at the end of 2027 and if the Knights can’t take the next step, he may decide to find a club that can.

Or he may decide to scratch the rugby union itch. Either way, the clock is ticking on the Knights but Brown may buy them some more time.

If he can help deliver them a title, he will be worth every cent.

KNIGHTMARE: DAVID RICCIO

The Knights’ offer to Dylan Brown of $1.3 million for the next 10 seasons reeks of desperation and prompts more questions than an episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Firstly, Brown isn’t worth $1.3 million per-season when you consider the NRL benchmark halfback, four-time premiership-winner Nathan Cleary, is earning around $1.5 million at the Panthers.

Brown has neither shown the elite-level consistency as a playmaker, let alone as a halfback, to suggest he’s worth becoming one of the highest-paid players in the game.

He is 24. I’ll let you do the math on how old Brown will be at the end of the deal, provided he gets that far without significant injury.

Of his 123 NRL games, just 10 have been at halfback for the Eels.

A gifted runner of the ball, how Newcastle have absolute confidence that Brown has the nous to steer a team, alongside a rookie pivot in Fletcher Sharpe, with the pressure of living up to his enormous price tag, is an almighty gamble.

Where will Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown be playing in 2026? Picture: NRL

I won’t cop that the lure of signing for the next decade with the Knights is because the offer provides financial security for Brown.

Outside of Titans forward Tino Fa’aseamalaui (2033), Brown currently boasts the longest contract in the NRL, through until 2031 with the Eels.

His lending capacity to invest isn’t an issue.

What is also concerning is that the Knights are the only club willing to go big for Brown. Not even the club from his home country of New Zealand, the Warriors, are interested in Brown, preferring to back Chanel Harris-Tavita and Luke Metcalf, of whose combined salaries wouldn’t reach $1.3 million.

With Sharpe locked in until the end of 2028, the impact of Brown signing with Newcastle for such an extensive contract will also kill off any hope the club has of holding onto their crop of young talent pushing through the pathways system, who have aspirations to play NRL.

* The NRL has helped fund our team’s travel expenses to Las Vegas

Originally published as Weekend Read: Why Sam Burgess’ arrival in Las Vegas brings a new level of intrigue to NRL return