It was suggested yesterday on Nrl360 that Demetrious' time as head coach could be short lived with Wayne Bennett taking over and big Sam as his protege, so even if he does 2 years, will he stay or go.
I hope a british RL star doesn't state 'homesick' for his return, IF there is one.
For me, he's a genuine guy so I think we'll get an honest decision, whatever happens.

His plan was only ever two years here I think. And I have no doubt he’ll stay to see it out. He seems that sort of character. I wouldn’t expect him to go in as an assistant to Bennett when he’s doing so well in his first head coach role.

I don’t expect him to stay here beyond the two years though, even if we were to win the grand final (unlikely anyway). It’s clear already just what he can do, even without a ready made team of stars, and I have no doubt he’ll go okay back in the NRL.

I’ve no issue with Sam leaving to the NRL if he ever did.

My only concern is which of our breakthrough stars he would take with him.

Could he be an Alex Murphy type guy.
Rips the best from his teams and takes them wherever he goes.

<<< Shudders, thinking of Powell taking Mata'utia, Holmes and Minikin out of Castleford >>>

Even if he did take a couple, the way the younger players are being pushed on, we're likely to be much better off overall for his influence. Saints and Wigan have consistently remained strong even when losing players to the NRL because of their academies and faith in playing youth. Hopefully we're going in that direction too.

I think this is pure speculation on the part of lazy Dail Mail journos and is on the back of two losses for the Bunnies. They have to fill their columns with something !

I remember an article when Burgess was announced stating that he did not have the relevant qualifications to coach at SL level but he had a dispensation to coach at elite level in the UK. From memory the coaching courses in Australia had been on hold since the pandemic so he couldn't gain the required qualifications in Australia.
He has made no secret of his desire to return to Australia but everybody knows that to get a head coaches gig in Australia you have pretty much to win a GF over here. I think the only coach in the last 20 years that managed to get a head coaches role in the NRL without winning the SL grand final was Trent Robinson.

There was always going to be speculation about Sam returning to the NRL, he has such a high profile over there.

The better that Wire do, then the more the rumours will intensify.

The number of young players currently playing in our 1st team is down to Burgess giving them a chance (The kids have to be good enough of course & that`s down to them & also to the scouts and scholarship/ academy coaches).

Sam`s partner is from Leeds and with them having a very young daughter, she will be happy staying in England for now, with the family support they can give her, so I can she him staying for the duration of his contract with us.

It`s hard to judge the current level we are at, maybe the Catalan home game at Easter will show us that?

To win the Grand Final, Warrington would have to beat Wigan in the play-offs, and with the playing squad they have assembled there, I can`t see anyone team doing that in the next couple of years.

Just echoing what others have posted. SB returning to the NRL at some point in time surely doesn't surprise anyone. He's just cutting his coaching teeth while with the Wire.

He said he's doing 2 years then going home, the surprise would be if he stayed over here.

Wigan rely heavily on French, and a loss of either Farrell or Field hits them hard.
That sort or reliance won’t help Wigan across a season of wholly.
They found their Mojo when it mattered most.
They are not that far ahead of us, and we have a whole lot more improvement to come.

Sam still has a lot to prove, and I think we’re a good test case for him.

There was never any doubt that Sam would have got an instant reaction from the players. Just by being who he is, players will want to impress him, want to listen to him and have him hear their voices too.

But he’s had it all his own way so far. Limited impact to pre-season with only a few players away on international duty, a deep squad with youngsters ready for a chance and we couldn’t have had a better fixture list if he picked it himself.

But the momentum will change. Results, injuries, form will all hit a dip at some point. And the shine and aura will dilute the longer he is here, so can’t fall back on his playing career to command respect.

The May run of Hull KR, Catalan and Wigan with a cup game (potentially) in the middle will be a huge test. We saw last year that when we didn’t get our own way, we struggled to arrest the spiralling momentum.

Firstly, we need to cash in while we can. London, Catalan, Leeds, Leigh, Salford and Hull is not an easy run, with teams who want to compete for the same positions that we are looking at. But with a good feel in the place, boosted with some players returning from injury and those replacements fighting to keep the shirt, we need to look to progress through the cup and pick off at least three of those games. But it’s vital that if we lose one, we stick together, don’t get in our own heads and stick with the system.

That will be the test for Sam, and realistically looking at South’s and the way they imploded at the back end of last season and can’t seem to find a way out yet, it’s the perfect audition if he does have sights on that job.

On the contrary Barb.
I see all our games till Wigan/ Catalan away as very winnable.
I’d be very disappointed with anything else.

I hope he sees out the 2 years with us, if he can turn us in to title contenders we are a much bigger draw for coaches from the nrl as a proving ground. Hopefully he will change the culture and get us over the line but even if he just improves the culture and makes us a team that's challenging for all trophies and sitting in the top 2 or 3 of we will be a lot more tempting for bigger name Coaches after 2 years.

I just want him to finish that job before he goes and gets the big nrl role which he seems nailed on for.

I think we'll definitely get a minimum of 2 years out of Sam, I wouldn't be surprised if he extended if he feels he has unfinished business. He is young and has plenty of time on his hands for an NRL return.