Warrington coach and Souths legend Sam Burgess backs NRL plan to purchase the English Super League

Sam Burgess has experience in both Australia and English league and has given his verdict on the NRL’s mooted takeover of the Super League and what it could mean for the game globally.

New Warrington coach Sam Burgess has thrown his support behind the NRL acquiring the English Super League, declaring it’s something “the game might need over here”.

Burgess, left the NRL just months ago to take up the job at Warrington, and celebrated a win over Hull KR on Saturday.

It came amid revelations the NRL was exploring the unprecedented prospect of buying the English Super League and controlling both competitions on opposite sides of the world.

The NRL last week unveiled record revenue, while the Super League continues to ride the rollercoaster of financial success.

Sam Burgess looks on during Warrington’s match with Hull. Picture: Jess Hornby/Getty Images

Burgess believed the move to officially align the NRL with the Super League was a no-brainer.

“I love (ARL Commission chair) Peter V’landys. I’m a big fan. I think he’d be great. I think the game would benefit from it,” said Burgess, whose playing career spanned both competitions.

“Peter’s obviously a very intelligent bloke. It’s all rumours, too. I got told about it today as well so I don’t know if it’s true. But I think it’s what the game might need over here.”

SEND-OFF CONTROVERSY

Burgess is loving life as a head coach — but what he’s not loving as much is the Super League’s crackdown on concussion injuries.

A week after their opening round was marred by head knock controversies, the issue again came under the spotlight after a shock send-off in Warrington’s win over Hull KR.

In a game that marked Burgess’ first win as a coach, Robins hooker Fa’amanu Brown was shown a red card following an accidental head clash with Wolves forward Ben Currie.

“I feel for Nu Brown. That was really tough on him,” Burgess said.

“It’s not even a head-on-head initial collision. It’s a secondary collision. As a coach, I don’t want to win a game like that. Players don’t.

Nu Brown accidentally makes contact with the head of Ben Currie

“At some point, there’s probably going to see some common sense put into it. It’s out of my hands. It’s hard for me to put too much energy into it.

“I could sit here and tell you logically what I think we should do, but it’s not going to make a difference right now.”

The incident comes months after the Rugby Football League announced a raft of changes to lower concussion risk, including lowering the legal tackle height to below the armpit in 2025.

Burgess said that in a time where players are safer than they’ve ever been, he’s concerned about how much the fabric of the game is being changed.

The NRL has yet to follow the RFL in implementing the rules.

“We’ve got protocols around concussion, got the 12-day stand down,” he said.

“Everything’s monitored, the training loads as far as distance covered, the sports science is through the roof, nutrition through the roof, facilities are improved.

Nu Brown sent off…. For this? Absolutely bonkers decision. pic.twitter.com/Y7kFIJcApU

— Joe Barton (@joebarto) February 23, 2024

“In terms of player safety and welfare, it’s the best state the game’s ever been.

“The worry is that, especially on this side of the world, we’re being reactive to some legal cases that are going on and so we’re trying to adapt to that rather than just accepting that we’re going to have to take them on.

“I don’t think we should change the game, as much, to negate that.”

Asked whether he was comfortable with the game’s new stance, Burgess said: “I don’t think anyone’s comfortable. I don’t even think the people making the rules are comfortable with it.

“I think they’re forced rules by governing bodies.”

Burgess met up with Ivan Cleary this week. Picture: Joseph Richardson

COACHING CALL

The incident overshadowed what was an otherwise convincing win by the Wolves, officially kickstarting the coaching career of the South Sydney legend.

The 35-year-old accepted the Warrington job after leaving the Rabbitohs late last year in acrimonious circumstances, reportedly falling out with coach Jason Demetriou.

But he has found happiness in his return home.

“I’m the youngest head coach here in the league. I’ve always (thought), ‘Why not?’ I’ve always tried and pushed boundaries,” Burgess said.

“You only learn by getting outside your comfort zone. When the opportunity came, there’s no way I’d back down from it. It’s been one of the greatest decisions I’ve made.

“And I’m thankful for that. I’ve been given the opportunity by obviously the powerbrokers here, Stuart (Middleton), Simon (Moran) and Karl (Fitzpatrick).

“So I’m just trying to repay that on the field.”

NO BURGESS REUNION

Burgess also explained how the club missed out on signing his younger brother Thomas, who recently announced he would be leaving South Sydney to join Huddersfield.

“We just got priced out. I’ve inherited a roster here and you can only have three marquees. I’ve got three marquees, and the offer was marquee money,” he said.

“I just, I couldn’t afford it. He got a three year deal there.

“There’s a head coach part of the conversation, there’s an older brother part of the conversation. (He said), ‘Sam I’ve got an offer for this long and this much’.

“(I said) ‘Take it, and enjoy it’.

“I would’ve loved to coach him, but it’s a business isn’t it at the end of the day. And at least he’s in England, so I’ll see a lot more of his girls.”

Originally published as Warrington coach and Souths legend Sam Burgess backs NRL plan to purchase the English Super League