Ask those in the know at the beginning of the 2026 season which two teams would contest the Grand Final and not many would have picked out Warrington or Wakefield.
“It’s Warrington’s year” has become something of a meme in the northern hemisphere’s rugby league fandom in the past few years – describing how one of the league’s best-funded and well-supported teams always looks the part, but falls at the final hurdle.
Former England coach Steve McNamara arrived at the club as an assistant coach last October following his departure from a spell at Catalans, who he guided to the Challenge Cup and two Super League Grand Finals.
He is set to join Hull FC for next season but Burgess believes their previous failures have not happened in a vacuum – but have shaped the team they have become this season.
“We’ve played a couple of big games over the last three years, so we’ve got a bit of experience,” said Burgess.
“We have matured as a group and as a club. The club has matured with us, which is important. Whether it counts as much, on Saturday, we’ll see.”
Of course, Burgess’ time as a player can be summed up by a stunning 2014 season which culminated in a victorious NRL Grand Final with the Rabbitohs, when he played on with a broken cheekbone and also won the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match.
Asked about how he reflected on that moment ahead of his first Grand Final as a coach, Burgess said: “It’s much easier as a player.
“Any experience is experience whether it’s as a player, coach, staff member, assistant, whatever. We’ve got a bit of experience in the room.
“Steve McNamara brought a lot of experience to us this year as well, which is going to help for something.
“We’ve got a lot of things in our corner. Again, when the whistle blows at six o’clock, you’ve got to do the right jobs and get the performance on the field.”