Sam Burgess has barely left the Bunnies, but is already being tipped for a return – and in the top job, too.
The Souths legend departed the club this week after an almighty power struggle, and will link up with Super League side Warrington as head coach next year.
Should it go well in the UK, he will be top of the list for replacements for current coach, Jason Demetriou – at least according to James Hooper on NRL 360.
“I don’t think this is the last we’re going to see of Sam Burgess in the NRL, he’s going to be back,” he said.
“I have no question if things go pear-shaped at South Sydney, as they have this season, I think the next head coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be Sam Burgess and it could be as early as 2025 if things don’t go according to script.
“This is a more spectacular collapse then when the Broncos missed the eight last year, they were on top of the competition after Round 11 and now Sam Burgess, who is out and out red and green royalty, who was only brought in as an assistant coach at the end of last year, is out the door.”
Hooper went on to suggest that Burgess had already been offered a role at the Dolphins, and would have taken over there in 2025 instead of current assistant Kristian Woolf.
‘Wayne Bennett was busting to get Sam in as part of his coaching staff, I think he actually wanted him to be the successor as part of who was going to be the head coach, that was prior to Kristian Woolf joining Wayne at the Dolphins,” said the panelist.
“That shows you the respect he has, Wayne has been around the game for so long and he knows what Sam can bring and the standards he drives.”
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Newcastle utility Kurt Mann is the target of multiple clubs on both sides of the world, with the Bulldogs launching a bid to keep him in the NRL amid interest from the UK.
Mann’s move to England was thought to be a done deal, with his agent touting him around the Super League and several considering their options.
But a late interest from Canterbury may see Mann move to Sydney instead. After failing to secure Connor Watson as their forward utility for 2024, the Dogs have moved on to the Knights star, who has impressed in their recent upsurge in form.
The 30-year-old has over 175 NRL appearances under his belt across Melbourne, St George Illawarra and latterly Newcastle, which have been split between multiple positions: indeed, the only positions he has not played at NRL level is front row.
He began his career almost exclusively as a back before transitioning to a half, then hooker and now as a back rower.
Jordan Rankin, the youngest player in the history of the NRL, has finally called time on his professional career at the age of 31.
He was just 16 when he took to the field for the Gold Coast in their inaugural season in 2008, and made 17 appearances for the Titans before spending six seasons in the Super League, racking up 123 appearances across three clubs between 2014 and 2020, with stints at Hull, Huddersfield and Castleford.
In between, he made 23 appearances for the Wests Tigers in 2016 and 2017.
Rankin has been playing NSW Cup at Parramatta, guiding their young players as captain-coach in 2022, following the promotion of now-Dragons boss Ryan Carr into the first grade set up.
He will now continue with the Eels as head coach of their Jersey Flegg side in 2024.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in rugby league for so long,” said Rankin. “I’ve made lifelong friends and I’m very grateful to the game for the opportunities it has given me.
“I’m now completely focussed on my coaching role for Jersey Flegg and I’m looking forward to using my experience to help the next generation of young Eels players achieve their dreams of playing in the NRL one day.’
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