AS Sam Burgess prepares to take charge of his first top-flight game as a head coach with Warrington Wolves, it is perhaps poetic that Steve McNamara will be sat in the opposite coaching box.

For it was the current Catalans Dragons boss that gave a fresh-faced Burgess his big break while in charge of Bradford Bulls and set him on his path to superstardom.

Having coached Burgess during his academy days at Odsal before handing him his Super League debut as a teenager back in 2006, McNamara saw him blossom into a stand-out talent before being snapped up by South Sydney Rabbitohs, but it was not to be the end of their professional partnership.

They were reunited on the international stage, with McNamara taking over an England team that now had Burgess at its very heart in 2010.

Eight of Burgess’ 24 England caps came while McNamara was at the helm, including the run to the semi-finals of a home Rugby League World Cup back in 2013.

“Having my first game as a head coach in the top flight be against Steve is kind of fitting,” the Wire boss said.

“My first top-flight game as a player was under him, so it’s funny how it works out.

“Steve and I were close not only as coach and player but off the field as well.

“He’s had an amazing career as both a player and a coach, so there’s things to admire in there but it will be all business this week.

“He’s a very accomplished coach who’s had success wherever he’s been, and I know he’ll be prepared.

“He’s had some changes with his spine and there’s a bit of experience that has left, so he’ll be figuring things out as well.”

Burgess recalls fondly his time under McNamara’s tutelage at Odsal during a period in which the Bulls regularly contended for the game’s top prizes.

And he says McNamara’s handling of him as a young professional have inspired some of his coaching techniques.

“Steve allowed me to play freely,” he said.

“We had a really skilful team with players like Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo, David Solomona in there with Paul Deacon, Iestyn Harris and Terry Newton as well.

“We had an unbelievable team and he allowed me to play how I wanted to.

“I guess I’ve taken that into what I’ve told my players – I want then to express themselves within the structures we’ve put in place.”