Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sam Burgess has led Warrington to three finals in three seasons as head coach
ByAdam LaniganBBC Sport England- Published15 minutes ago
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess confirmed he is going to stay with the club for next year as the dust settles on yet another near miss in the Grand Final.
Saturday's 23-10 loss to Wakefield Trinity means Warrington have been losing finalists five times on Super League's biggest stage.
But having led the Wolves back to Old Trafford for the first time since 2018, Burgess - whose side also suffered narrow Challenge Cup final defeats in 2024 and 2025 - wants the pain to drive them on.
The 37-year-old is yet to agree terms for 2027 and beyond, but he has offered reassurances to the club's owner Simon Moran about his future.
"I've not signed a contract yet but I've given my word to Simon Moran and that's probably better than any contract," said Burgess.
"I truly believe in where we're going as a club and the identity we've created. In the middle of the season, we had 15 players injured and the academy system held us together.
"It'll be the same again next year and I truly believe in our philosophy."
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That philosophy was characterised by the appearances of scrum-half Ewan Irwin and centre Arron Lindop at Old Trafford.
Irwin is still only 18 and Lindop just two years older - but they contributed all 10 of their side's points against Wakefield with Lindop crossing for both tries and Irwin adding a conversion.
It is the emergence of that duo and others who are waiting in the wings that gives Burgess belief there will not be another eight-year wait to return to the domestic game's biggest stage.
"This is more of a beginning," said the man who won the National Rugby League Premiership in Australia with South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014.
"We've understood what it takes to get here now - well certainly I have - and the squad we are building now is getting more towards 'my' squad.
"We've understood as a club and a staff what it takes to get here and we're determined to take that next step, but we have got to keep improving.
"I guess we have to let the pain of today drive us forward tomorrow."
For now, that leaves Warrington as the nearly men of rugby league with Wakefield, and not the Wire, becoming the sixth club to join the elite band of Super League winners.
