4 days ago
What Sam Burgess says it will take for Wire to leave Wembley victorious
WARRINGTON Wolves are heading to Wembley as underdogs – of that, there cannot be much doubt.
Whether it's the pundits, the bookmakers, general observers or even large sections of their own fanbase, you will not find too many willing to give Sam Burgess' side any more than a puncher's chance against Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final.
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Indeed, the Super League-leading Robins are a whopping 2-7 on with competition sponsors Betfred to finally end their 40-year wait for a major trophy.
There is good reason for that – Rovers have won all but one of their 16 matches in all competitions this season including a 31-12 victory at The Halliwell Jones Stadium just a fortnight ago while The Wire have been inconsistent and come into the game with several star players either injured or drastically short of match fitness.
And yet, there is an internal belief that, in similar fashion to the last time they lifted the Challenge Cup in 2019 by stunning a heavily favoured St Helens side, Warrington can ensure that whenever Burgess' tenure as head coach ends, it will do so with at least one glorious memory.
However, he is acutely aware of the task facing his side and outlined exactly what it is going to take for them to come out on top.
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Warrington were beaten by Wembley opponents Hull KR in Super League just a fortnight ago (Image: Richard Walker) 'They're deservedly heavy favourites,' Burgess said.
'We have to be good because they're not going to beat themselves. They're really consistent, so we have to be on our game.
'All of our players are going to have to be at least an eight or nine out of 10 and when our moments and opportunities come, we have to take them.
'That's what I think the game will come down to on Saturday – who takes their moments.
'Traditionally, they start hot but I thought we handled that in the first half the other week so we could get a bit of confidence out of that.
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'We'll have to manage them early again – there's no doubt about that.'
This is, of course, not the first time Warrington have stood on the very brink of silverware since Burgess took the reins at the start of last year.
Twelve months ago, they found themselves in this very position having made much more serene progress through the campaign but the stage proved just too big for a side just returning to contention for honours as the winning machine that is Wigan Warriors won out at Wembley.
For many, that was their first experience at Wembley and one they will be keen to turn the page on. Now, they have the perfect opportunity to do so.
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Sam Burgess applauds the Warrington fans following last year's Wembley defeat to Wigan Warriors (Image: John Walton/PA Wire) 'We're looking forward to going back,' Burgess said.
'We've had a tough run in the cup with some great games – we're proud of getting here but we've still got a load of work to do.
'KR are a fantastic side who have dominated everyone they've played against really so we know we've got a tough task but we're looking forward to it.
'Last year was like smooth sailing but this year has been much more challenging.
'There's been a number of things on and off the field – making hard decisions and losing players at key times – that have really made me think about things coaching-wise, but I've enjoyed that side of it.
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'I'm learning a bit more and the group are learning more about each other as well.
'This weekend is another chance for us to grow as a group, for the club to go forwards and for me to grow as a coach.'
Burgess is all too aware that opportunities to win trophies do not come around often, for the playing career that marked him out as a modern-day great contained just one final victory – a memorable 2014 NRL Premiership with South Sydney Rabbitohs having played virtually the entire Grand Final with a fractured cheekbone.
Winning a first trophy as a head coach would make headlines on both sides of the globe, but it is clear he is not allowing himself to dream.
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'There's a lot of hard work to be done between now and the final hooter on Saturday,' he said.
'I try not to live in 'fantasy land.' I try and stay in the present.
'Any chance of winning silverware is important so it will mean something for sure.
'As a player, you're actually really selfish but as a coach, your vision is so much wider on so many different things.
'You can draw on certain experiences from playing that you thing might help the group, but what might work for me might not work for everyone.'
