SAM Burgess says allowing everyone at Warrington Wolves to move forward together with clarity was a big factor in his decision to sign an extended contract with the club.

And even though the ambition to coach in the NRL remains, he says staying with The Wire beyond his new deal is far from off the table.

This afternoon, the club confirmed Burgess had penned a 12-month extension to his initial two-year deal, thereby tying their head coach to the club until the end of the 2026 campaign.

It allows for the continuation of a partnership that has started promisingly, with the rookie coach having led his side to the top of Super League and to a first Challenge Cup Final since 2019.

Pretty much since he arrived in England, rumours of a return to Australia have refused to die down, especially when South Sydney Rabbitohs – the club he represented with such distinction as a player – parted company with their head coach Jason Demetriou.

However, he insists he is in “absolutely no rush” to return Down Under and that his new deal signifies how happy he is in Warrington.

“It’s a big decision as I’ve left a lot behind in Australia, but it probably shows just how much I’ve enjoyed my time here,” he said.

“We’ve got a good thing going on as a group and as a family, myself (partner) Lucy and (daughter) Robbie are really enjoying ourselves. We’re loving life in England.

“We’re 10 weeks away from the end of the year and then that’s one year done.

“I love the club and I love the town – we’ve really felt welcome and part of the community here.

“The rugby side of it has been really enjoyable too – it’s been great to manage the team and watch players develop.

“Two years didn’t seem enough, so I’m thrilled with it really.

“And that’s not to say I won’t stay longer – if it’s going great again, we’ll stay for as long as we feel we can make the place better.

“I’ve got the ambition to coach in the NRL at some point, but I’m in absolutely no rush with that. I’m really enjoying figuring out my coaching style, what works and what doesn’t, here at Warrington.

“There’s no point rushing that stuff – you can have a long career in coaching if you get it right.

“The club has been so great to my family, so it’s only fair that we give everyone that clarity about our next little plan.

“I don’t want anxiety around the place and I didn’t want to play the game with Simon (Moran, club owner).

“He gave me my shot so I didn’t want to play the game and go to the market. I want everyone to feel comfortable about it so we can recruit and move in the same direction together.”

Confirmation of Burgess’ new deal comes just shy of a year since his appointment was confirmed, and exactly 12 months to the day since his predecessor Daryl Powell parted company with the club.

He admits returning to England was something he was “pretty nervous” about but that he has found himself becoming more connected to Warrington than he ever imagined.

He was keen to credit the Warrington Wolves Foundation – something he called “the town’s best-kept secret” – and being involved in the work they do as being key to growing that bond

“I was pretty nervous about coming back to England as I didn’t know how it would go but everywhere I go, I’m welcomed and that means a lot to me.

“I probably didn’t expect to be as deeply engrained in the community but I’m enjoying every part of it.

“Our foundation do such a brilliant job – you see so much of the town that you may not otherwise see and it’s probably it’s the best-kept secret in Warrington.

“Being a part of that has helped connect me to what Warrington’s about.

“We’ve got the Be The Change campaign out there at the moment and we’ve all enjoyed being part of that.”