As long as an adequate mentor figure/director of RL was put in place to help him, then I don't have a huge issue with Burgess as head coach - The field is that thin that an appointment that is outside the conventional could turn out to be an ingenious one.

If we are considering Burgess I would hope we are looking at a model similar to Wigan where there is a mentor in place in case they need back up / support.
I know he is at the raiders but Michael McGuire would fit the bill as he was his coach at the Bunnies when they won the grand final.
Burgess would be a gamble but I just can’t see there being any coaches with the right level of experience being available so whoever we get would be a gamble to some extent.

When Wigan announced Matt Peet as coach I was a bit baffled. From what I have heard they decided on a long term plan to concentrate on bringing through Academy players and they were not expecting to lift a trophy for a while and they are ahead of schedule after lifting the challenge cup last year.
You only have to look at Sam Powell. They have decided that they were not offering another contract or reduced terms but instead of continuing to play him they have been throwing in a O’Neil. Experienced players like Singleton left out of the squad even when fit
It would be a miracle if we got anywhere near a grand final this year and we are not going to get relegated so time to set up for next year.
matautia, Ratchford, Dudson, Kassiano, Minikin, Dufty and Russell are surely not part of the long term future so for the rest of the year
Nicholson to 13 and Crowther at Second Row
Thewlis at Full back
Wrench at Centre
At least one of Green, Holroyd, Thomas (I know he is on loan atm) in the 17 every game and to play more than 10 mins.
Possibly take a look at some academy backs.

Well yes it would be ok if that’s the case but the way things are run now we would end up with Krusty the clown as DoR.

Thomas is only a 2 week loan so should be back before our next game.

I refuse to believe there are not MANY more suitable candidates available than Sam Burgess.

What's the criteria for a suitable candidate?

Excellent question. Im struggling to think what Burgess and Holbrook have in common.

Not from Yorkshire

Realistically, there isn't a perfect candidate - We are playing in a second rate competition, so it's not like we can go and poach the best coach in the world. We are always going to end up with someone who you can find negatives about.

Holbrook was probably at the top end of the spectrum for what we could realistically attract, but, as we have found out, an assistant coach's job in the NRL is equally, if not more, attractive than a head coach's role in our comp.

Burgess would be a gamble, but I suspect anyone we can realistically attract is going to come with doubts about their suitability for the job.

Good ponts. I am just trying to work the criteria or rationale from the alleged candidate list.

Fair points but there has to be an assistant (or upcoming coach) in the NRL who fancies two years of proving his credentials over here and thereby landing a better gig back in oz. I assume we’ve approached Hannay and Morris who would both be much better options than Burgess. Both long shots admittedly.

Burgess is an assistant at the Rabbitohs?

I think Russell Crowe might be a better prospect than Burgess.

Team talk easy - "unleash hell"

The best we can hope for now is probably an assistant coach from the NRL who would relish the opportunity to prove his credentials for a top job back home… I know this failed last time.. but what other options do we have?

Whoever we appoint now, will know they weren’t first pick after the Holbrook farce… so it’s slightly tainted in that regard.

I would still be happy with a Briers or a Monaghan…. What I absolutely DONT want is us to take another SL coach, like Rowley… or an embarrassing attempt at throwing big money at someone and taking them away from the current club.