Sam Burgess stands at the entrance to a catering area at Halliwell Jones Stadium. It is high, wide and has the same dimensions as the doorway. It looks like he should be playing for Warrington Wolves this weekend when the Super League starts, rather than coaching them.
However, it is from the stands that Burgess will make his presence felt as a new chapter in his larger-than-life story begins at Catalans Dragons on Saturday.
Never afraid to put himself in the spotlight, one of English rugby’s most charismatic and controversial figures has left his job as an assistant at South Sydney Rabbitohs – the NRL club where he became a superstar – to return home turn and try head coaching.
It doesn’t matter that he’s only 35.
“I was actually 34 when I got the job,” corrected Burgess, who is younger than Warrington full-back Stefan Ratchford.
“I was finishing up at Souths and this just came up. A lot of people advised me to take a little more time, but Wayne Bennett told me, ‘Go do it. It’s the only way you’re going to learn.’ It was a sliding door moment.
“It wasn’t a plan, but it was a great opportunity outside my comfort zone. I wanted to eventually become a head coach and this seemed like a good choice. It’s a great club to be part of.”
The morning we meet, he has been training with the team. He still does some running and gym sessions, but contact is a no. The Slammin’ Sam days are long gone.
‘I really struggled without purpose or drive’
It has been four and a half years since Burgess retired due to a shoulder injury, a period in his life marked by chaos.
His initial journey as coach at the Rabbitohs stalled when he was withdrawn following a blizzard of damaging accusations from his ex-wife Phoebe and father-in-law Mitchell Hooke as he fought to clear his name.
He describes the situation he found himself in as ‘horrific’, with a harassment conviction against Hooke ultimately overturned and no charges brought over Phoebe’s claims of domestic abuse. However, Burgess was found guilty of driving with cocaine in his system, after which he spent four weeks in rehab.
It was a moment where he admits he felt adrift and directionless.
“When I retired, I had a difficult time. I had no purpose or drive and I really struggled with that,” he said.
“For a large part of my life, for so many years, I had the feeling of belonging to a group and of having a responsibility. Almost immediately it disappeared.
“During that time away from the game, I was just completely lost. I don’t find many things difficult, but I did find that period very difficult to deal with. I didn’t make any great decisions.
“I didn’t know how to deal with it emotionally. I didn’t understand how I felt. It’s something I wasn’t equipped for. I had to spend a lot of time working on myself and understanding those feelings and emotions that young men don’t really do much about.”
Trouble revisited Burgess two weeks ago when he had to appear on video link at another Australian court at 3am to defend himself after being accused of driving with a suspended license. Those charges were dismissed.
“It’s all done and dusted now. Whether I was targeted or not, I don’t know, but in the end common sense prevailed,” he said.
“I would have made a new start with my life there anyway, but this is a new opportunity with responsibility and purpose.”
There are complications with his switching brain hemispheres. With his new partner Lucy and baby Robbie in tow, his two children from his first marriage, Poppy, 7, and Billy, 5, are back in Australia.
“The only thing that made me wish I was back there is my family. “I miss the kids,” he said.
“Everything else is great. I absolutely loved everything about being back from the cold weather, from the change of house, from the different lifestyle.”
It is Burgess’s first time living in Britain since his tumultuous year in rugby union, which saw him made the scapegoat for England crashing out of the 2015 World Cup at the pool stage.
His reflections on that time are rosier than many would expect.
“I actually had a great time in rugby union and had some success. People may laugh at that, but I played in a Premiership final for Bath against a ‘heavily paid’ Saracens team and I got into a World Cup squad. I had to work my butt off to do that,” he said.
“I represented my country and felt I had contributed something to the game of rugby. I think a lot of people will disagree with that, but when you really broke it down, I was happy with it.
“The two warm-up games I played we won, then I played in the World Cup against Fiji and we won and then I started against Wales. After 70 minutes we were winning. Then I came off the field and we lost!
“That match against Wales seems to many people to be the sticking point of my time in the association, but I learned so much.
“I was surrounded by some great coaches who had great careers after that World Cup.
“Stuart Lancaster at Racing is now probably the coach in world rugby, Andy Farrell is the current Lions coach, Mike Catt is with Ireland and Graham Rowntree at Munster. They are top coaches and I accepted everything they said.
“I loved the game of rugby union. I still do that.”
‘Andy Farrell would be a great role model’
Could he one day consider a Farrell-like move to a coaching union?
“Never say never,” he said. “Although it wasn’t for a long period of time, I really delved into understanding the game and seeing it from both sides – as a forward and as a back player.
“Andy would be a great role model, but he’s a tough comparison for anyone. He’s a great icon and he’s a pretty special guy.
“Plus, I’m only in my first year as rugby league head coach.”
Burgess has been given a tempting job at underperforming Warrington, who were helped to mid-table by director of rugby Gary Chambers last season following the sacking of Daryl Powell.
The ambitions – at least the public ones – are consciously manageable.
‘I hope we will be competitive. All I ask from very early on is to go out there and compete and have some fun within the constraints of our structure,” he said.
“We spent a lot of time on basic skills just because it helps you make better decisions under pressure. Hopefully you will see that reflected in the performances.
“I’m very impressed so far. I am aware that we have not played a competitive match yet, but I feel that the team is in a balanced situation and that we can be honest with each other.
“I aim for improvement. Last year we finished sixth, so anything above that is good. To get there, we have to do a lot of things right.”
Burgess’ presence means all eyes will be on the Halliwell Jones Stadium. If a head coach can put bums in seats — even just out of curiosity to see if he succeeds or fails in his latest endeavor — he will.
He brings baggage, yes, but also glamour. And a touch of Hollywood.
“Russell Crowe texted me yesterday asking what the team looks like and what the weather is like. He sent me a nice video of the tennis court in Australia,” said Burgess.
“He’s doing something in the middle of the year – something with his band I think – so I need to get him to confirm he’s coming to a game.”