Former South Sydney great Sam Burgess coaching for just $7 a fortnight
Rather than take an NRL assistant role Sam Burgess opted to learn the job of a coach via bush footy – a job that comes with a very ‘bush footy’ salary.
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He is the former NRL champion wanting to carve out an elite post-playing career but Sam Burgess’s coaching apprenticeship is worth just $7 a fortnight.
In a remarkable revelation, Burgess – the ex-Souths and British forward – is being paid one pie and one soft drink at each home game every second weekend to coach Orara Valley Axemen in Group 2 on the NSW north coast.
And to prove there’s no additional financial payments, The Daily Telegraph has secured Burgess’ official Orara Valley contract which was lodged with NSWRL.
Signed by Burgess and Axemen president Peter Spinks, the contract states under a subhead of ‘PAYMENT, Base Salary’ that Burgess would receive: “1 x Garlo’s Pie (flavour of choice) and 1 x soft drink (flavour of choice) at the completion of each home game regardless of result.”
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Burgess’ minimal remuneration also includes a ground entry pass, club polo shirt, 2022 training kit and two adult tickets to mandatory club functions.
It is the most humble start to a coaching career by a star player in recent memory.
Burgess continues to mull over whether to join Wayne Bennett as an assistant at the Dolphins from next season or re-join Souths to further enhance his burgeoning coaching career.
After a two-year absence from group 2, Orara Valley has returned under Burgess and lead the premiership with seven wins from eight games.
Burgess volunteered his modest Orara Valley remuneration, saying: “On my contract, it states a Garlo’s Pie and a soft drink. I’m serious, I’m not getting paid to be here. I’m here because I love the game. We’re making a difference, that’s the main thing.
“To be fair, I go to the canteen after every home game and get a Garlo’s pie, they are our major sponsor.
“And we’re doing really well on the field. There are some big efforts from our players, we’re hanging in there. There is a bit of spirit in the place, which is good.
“I love the coaching side. I’m really enjoying it. When you see people improve, see people change, and when you start to see someone believe in themselves, it’s great, mate.”
Spinks confirmed Burgess’ contract at Orara Valley was a “pie and soft drink.”
“But it’s only for home games. Sam keeps trying to ‘up’ it to two pies,” Spinks laughed.
“I told Sam he was starting at the bottom, not at the top. You have to start somewhere and you can work your way up. But he takes his role seriously, genuinely seriously. He’s a true club coach, he’s across everything.
“He gets down to the ground and helps put up sponsor signs. He even got Wayne Bennett, when Wayne came here the other week, out there putting up signs.
“Sam is always super amenable to all our supporters, who want to have a photo with him or get an autograph. It’s never too much trouble for him. He goes to junior games, junior training sessions and he’s at all the fundraisers.”
Burgess said he hoped to settle his coaching future within the next fortnight.
Souths officials remain confident Burgess will agree to return to Redfern to pursue his coaching aspirations.
Burgess appears destined to become a NRL head coach within the next five years.
“Sam has a really good rapport with a lot of our players,” Spinks said. “He treats everyone the same. There is certainly a really good vibe around the club.
“Sam fits in really well with our ‘family club’ culture. He is just ‘Sam’ at the club – we all like to give him a bit of stick when people come up for an autograph. We ask: ‘Are you famous or something?’ He is just Sam to us.”
Orara Valley are scheduled to play South Grafton this Saturday.
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Originally published as Former South Sydney great Sam Burgess coaching for just $7 a fortnight
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