I’m a former England rugby ace, now I’m taking my first job in management after working under huge Hollywood star owner
SAM BURGESS hopes to sprinkle some Hollywood stardust on Warrington after taking advice from film star Russell Crowe.
The dual-code England ace, 34, jetted in from Australia for his first head coach role.
Burgess played for South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Aussie outfit owned by Crowe, best known for starring in films Gladiator and LA Confidential.
New gaffer Burgess can also call on the know-how of Wolves owner Simon Moran, one of the world’s biggest concert promoters, and club chairman Stuart Middleton, a greetings card tycoon — plus his mum Julie.
Burgess, in place for the 2024 season on a two-year deal, said: “I’ve got Russell, who’s been around for a long time. I speak to him weekly.
“His guidance was that Warrington have a great place in the community.
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“He’s huge on that. We’re great friends and he just urged me to be myself as well and enjoy the ride.
“He understands and was very encouraging really. He and Simon are friends and spoke in the background.
“There are a couple of people who have been successful in business in Australia, they have been great friends and are very intelligent.
“There’s my brothers and my mum’s great counsel. There’s also people here — Stuart and Simon, while (last season’s stand-in boss, now director of rugby) Gary Chambers has been wonderful.”
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Ex-NRL star Burgess was an assistant at South Sydney before deciding to return for the Warrington hotseat.
Now former England boss Wayne Bennett, who Burgess reached the 2017 World Cup final with, is passing on tips.
Burgess added: “Wayne told me not to come and speak to the press, that’s his counsel — get some work done.
“But his main message was, ‘Be yourself. You’re ready to coach.’ If I follow that, I don’t think I’ll go too far wrong.
“I’ll rely heavily on my experience and be authentic in how I approach things. I’m not going to copy anyone else.
SAM'S STYLE
“I’ll manage it my own way but certainly there’ll be things I’ll ask for advice on or lean on a couple of people who’ve done it for a number of years.
“When I retired, I took time out then jumped into coaching, I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to do.
“I realised quickly I’m a better head coach than an assistant, so here we are.
“But being an assistant can help.
“It’s experience, there are things you learn, good and bad — it’ll definitely help.”
Burgess denied he will link up with another league legend Kevin Sinfield, who is defence coach with England’s union team.
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He said: “We’ll meet for a coffee but I’ve said nothing about coming to Warrington.
“It’s a good rumour.”
