‘A bit bossy’: Sam Burgess says it’s a ‘shame’ he couldn’t sign his brother as siblings face off in the first week of the Super League

Sam Burgess has overcome plenty of things on the footy field, but he faces a unique challenge when he has to coach against his younger brother in the opening week of the UK Super League season.

Tom Burgess was happy to test himself at Huddersfield when he left the NRL and Souths to avoid being coached by his “bossy” sibling.

Sam played a key role at the Rabbitohs where he helped Tom and his twin George make the move to Australia, but there’ll be no time for sentiment in the Super League when the battle of the Burgess brothers closes out the opening round of the competition.

This will be Sam’s second year in charge of Warrington, while it’s Tom’s first one back in the UK following 12 seasons in the NRL where he played plenty of big games with his brothers, including Souths’ 2014 grand final win.

“My older brother over there is a bit bossy,” he told Sky Sports when asked about a potential reunion at the Wolves.

“Who knows what he’s like as a coach, so it might have been even worse (if I signed for Warrington), so I decided to keep that bit separate.”

This will be the first time the brothers have come up against each other, with the clubs squaring off on February 17 at 2am (AEST).

Warrington will then head to Las Vegas where they’ll take on Wigan as part of a massive day of footy at Allegiant Stadium, but Sam isn’t looking past the chance to get one over his younger brother.

“On a personal note, both our families are going to be there,” he said.

“Thomas hasn’t quite organised it yet, but we’re supposed to get some corporate boxes at Huddersfield.

“It’ll be a nice day there either way, and we’re looking forward to the season starting all over again.

“I like to say he’s older because I’m much smaller than him.

“He brings a great deal of experience. He played 250 games in the NRL and he’s already played 50 Super League games prior to Huddersfield, plus 35 Test matches.

“There aren’t too many players who have got that resume – it’s a lot greater than me and George – so he brings a great deal of experience and he’s a calm head in the group.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t get him, but that’s the way it goes. We can deal with that.”