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.

Any appointment would be a gamble. Some are bigger than others. Many would have considered Powell has quite a small gamble and we know how that unfolded?

I'm actually intrigued by how this works out - I suspect there will be no bland, boring middle ground. It will either be a total car crash or he will be a success. One thing is for sure, if he's serious about a coaching career back in the NRL, then he has to make this work, so he has plenty of incentive to do well, which can only be good for us.

That’s it in a nutshell, we knew all about Powell before he got here with Burgess we are clueless on the coaching front and that’s pretty much why so many are anti him. Can’t deny I was against it but it’s done now so we have to see how it goes.

Burgess is an enormous risk, the lack of experience and the lack of professionalism in his post-retirement struggles must be concerns. He doesn't seem the right man to fix the culture issues at Warrington. He is a leader however and there is no doubt he'll be able to motivate the players. It's a high risk, high reward scenario I guess. The worry I'd have as a Wire fan or Director making this appointment, would be his longevity. How long is he actually willing to stay in the UK? Is he back permanently now? Is this his exit route from his struggles in Australia? Or is this a route to a head coach role in the NRL? If that's the case, he'll be gone at the merest hint of an offer and you're back to square one again. If he brings a Grand Final for that to happen, potentially you won't care too much? But it doesn't seem like an appointment that will last five years, he'll either have left for the NRL or been sacked within two you'd imagine depending on how it goes?

You are rumoured to be bringing Sean Long in as well? A superbly knowledgeable coach with some really good ideas, but the professionalism and stability of his approach is as questionable as Burgess'. I don't think you'll be complaining about effort or entertainment with those two in charge however.

Isn't any new coach a gamble?
To be honest you could criticise any appointment. I have never seen him coaching so don't really know. Exciting idea. Go for it! Mind you I have been on the sherry in the Wheatsheaf.

If it works out Burgess will use this as a springboard to head coach in the NRL.

The whole thing reminds me of the murphy dorahy dream team from yonder year.