If that's true I wish I had Powell's agent...

Obviously only speculation till Abe posts, (or the Club), but if true he could form part of an advance party for Burgess? Not only eyes and ears for our new coach but it'll get our tattoo count back to full quota following Josh Charnley's exit to Leigh

Announcement at 7pm tonight I’m told.

To all those people who are totally writing off this appointment, just ask yourself how much coaching experience Ellery Hanley had when he won Saints a GF?

Similar to Hanley, Burgess is a genuine great of the game, so I'm going to be interested to see if he can work the same magic that Hanley did - Sometimes, just the sheer aura of an individual can overcome perceived negatives that someone might have... Look at Kenny Dalglish for Liverpool in the 80's, zero experience, wins a double first season - Sometimes great players transfer immediately to being great coaches.

I really did want it to work out for Daryl Powell but it just wasn’t to be. Clearly, he had a difficult task but his man management to improve the culture brief was way off. I didn’t see any visible identity of his either in our style of play despite the classy Cas image. His recruitment too was very poor - Holmes, Matautia, McGuire, Drinkwater, Minikin and Dufty have all disappointed. Left Kasiano out because I think he could add something if we have a strong pack.
So while accepting Burgess has to be a major gamble, I am warming to the idea. We have tried experience and it failed and, as the game has changed, Powell, McDermott and Noble et al might have had their day. Burgess has a big personality and I can’t see many players (including Toby King) willing to take him on. We need new ideas and he has the background for that.
Of the alternatives, we have second in command Aussie coaches similar to Steve Price or Paul Rowley who has just overseen 7 losses in a row.
Sean Long should know enough about Super League and Paul Cullen as Director of Rugby as back up has the makings of a decent set up.
Then again I could be wrong……

in other words its a big gamble.

Hopefully Sam will stay longer at Warrington than Ellery did in either of his RL coaching positions.

As the Duck says Burgess a proven winner on the field so I’ll be giving him a chance and let’s be honest he doesn’t have to improve much on what Powell + Price did.

Out of interest, what’s Hanley’s win percentage as a coach in his short career? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was better than Price, Smith and Powell, however ironic that would be



EDIT: Indeed it is better: 76% at Saints and 66% at Doncaster.

Not really what we wanted, we will just have to get behind him and see how it goes. I’m interested now how much change to the rest of the current coaches etc.

He didn't stick around at Doncaster to have that reduced the following season in the Championship.