Burgess has 'no doubt' over Warrington backing

Sam Burgess took over at Warrington Wolves in time for the 2024 season

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess insists he still has the ability to lead his squad, despite a disappointing 2025 campaign.

Club chairman Stuart Middleton issued a statement on Tuesday backing Burgess and said he would remain as the Wire's head coach for 2026 despite a mixed season.

Burgess led his side to the Challenge Cup final for the second successive season but since their defeat by Hull KR at Wembley, their form has tapered off, including losses to lowly Huddersfield and a crisis-hit Salford side.

Asked by BBC Radio Merseyside if he had experienced any doubts over his players backing him, Burgess said: "I [have] never once felt like that. If I did feel that, I'd be brave enough to say that I can't influence this group.

"But I truly believe I can influence this group and can make it better. It's just, for whatever reason, we've had a tough run since Wembley and we're just not finding the resilience to get ourselves out of it and that's why we're here."

Former dual-code England international Burgess, 36, took over the Wire for the 2024 season and led them to a third-placed finish last term.

However, they are almost certainly set to miss out on a play-off place this season off the back of an inconsistent campaign.

Including June's Challenge Cup final defeat, Burgess' side have lost eight out of 12 games, with their win against Catalans on 14 August their only victory in their past six matches.

"As a coach you always reflect on how the week's been, the performance and how you've influenced that," Burgess added.

"We did that as a coaching staff and personally. It's disappointing the way the team's been performing but it's not really a reflection of what we've been doing in training at the moment.

"For whatever reason that's just not transferred. One thing I do know is I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We will stay on what works for us."