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)
Knights star in signing tug of war
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.
Youngest player hangs up boots
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.’
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Hooper on one hand guessing that Crowe and Burgess have had a falling out. At the same time guessing that Burgess will be back to coach Souths. I cancelled my membership when they hired Wayne Bennett and this is Bennett legacy. Every club he leaves there is turmoil of the highest order. He’d be lurking in the background like the big spindly pencil he is pulling the Sammy leavers. Mark my words, Bennett is the architect of this. He wanted Cody and didn’t get him so he will destroy Souths instead. Dolphins have been cooked since Wayne’s attention went outside of the club. Wayne and Sam have much in common with relationships.
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Why would you want a character like Sam Burgess in your club? Terrible role model. If Blake Solly and Russell Crowe are serious, he can be a friend of the club but not an employee.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
broncos were another club, early 90’s when they were smashing everyone and I’d think, geez these guys are just impregnable. from the outside in they just looked like they were run like a blue chip company with players to match.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ala Broncos 3yrs ago. When things are going downhill s..t becomes a sieve. People know who the leak is and in Brisbane case they were threatened with being outed. It stopped soon after.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Hooper is more than guessing, he has a hidden microphone up everyone's you know what :laughing: but as I said before, there is real troubles at Souths if SamB has blown up and its because of Trell and Cody and I agree with him as JD must be weak as p***, as SamB is the real deal when it comes to Souths and that is who I believe! Also, one thing that I agree with Hooper about, is that SamB will be the coach in 2025 or sooner as I've had enough of JD and how the Bunnies have fallen and imo will fall even further down next year! Next week will be the start of all this, hope I'm very wrong but you don't lose 8 out of 12 with the potential of 9 out of 13 and out of the 8, and make out that Souths has no problems and is properly coached, with especially having all the players to win this comp and they have fallen like a kamikaze off #1 position and next week out of the top 8, lets see what excuses JD has then?
Bernie
Roar Rookie
funny inn'it ?? as a life-long of a chook raffle-run club such as Saints, i was sooo jealous of these tight as, bleedin' myrtle-and-green band o' brothers at the famous Rabbitohs. everything at that club seemed so well run. but if they lose next week (couldn't be set up better could it) to the roosters, there may well be blood on the dancefloor.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I didn't see the actual clip, just read what was put on this article. Still, Burgess has form for being outspoken when he thinks he's hard done by.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've read some speculative pieces this season but this is bordering on complete nonsense from James Hooper A bloke who hasn't been a head coach at all and has only been an assistant for a season or so, is going to come back and possibly coach the Bunnies after a year in the UK? I guess that means if Burgess crashes & burns as a coach over there, he'll still oust Demetriou because he's "South Sydney royalty".
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Anasta actually asked Hooper if Morris or Burgess aren't leaking information, then who is leaking information? At which point he went all sheepish because (in all likelihood) his leak is not a reputable source (i.e someone with an ulterior motive, or someone not actually in the club's football operations).
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
There's a common denominator between this meeting you're referring to and the leaked conversations about JD being soft on Latrell.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Mann is a super handy player to have in your squad. Not necessarily having a specific spot for him but just the capability to fill in almost anywhere that you have a hole and do a professional job. It's not really a role that a young inexperienced player is well suited to. All comes down to price of course.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
could be. Then I'd expect someone at Souths or Sam would reach out and tell him to pull his head in.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Or.....or... hear me out..... Hooper is guessing.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Apparently Sam left the general meeting room with one board member and they had a D&M on the 'phone with Russell Crowe. And Hoops from Fox NRL 360 knows the intimate details of the discussion. How? who of those three spilled, 'coz I don't think it was Russ.
Albo
Roar Rookie
If Sam Burgess is serious about coaching he won't be content staying in " reserve grade " too long. As a winner at the highest levels, he will be back in the NRL not too far down the track. As for the Dogs chasing Kurt Mann, I would just shake my head. Surely they have some local talent that could better any job Mann can offer these days ? Well done to Jordan Rankin . No star , but a solid performer who will do well in the juniors development.