How Teenage Sam Burgess Was Bound for Greatness After His Initiation

BRETT Ferres knows Sam Burgess can make a big noise or be good with a paintbrush – he has known that ever since his initiation.

The back rower is also convinced the Warrington boss will make it to the top, as he was when the then teenager took to the field.

Brett Ferres is ready to go up against Sam Burgess – 20 years after they were team-mates.Credit: SWPIX.COM

Goole Vikings captain Ferres was part of the Bradford side that unleashed a 17-year-old against Leeds in July 2006.

Since then, Burgess has become an icon of the sport on both sides of the world. Now 20 years later, they face each other as the Championship part-timers go up against the Warrington side he coaches.

The role may be different, but the drive remains – just like when he was ‘welcomed’ to the first team.

“I remember Sam making his debut well,” said Ferres. “There was a lot of noise about him and you could see why once he went full-time.

“But I can’t recall what he did as an initiation! It would have been a song or a dance or something like that. Everyone goes through that process.

“When I first came through at Bradford, if you weren’t in the first team squad, you were never allowed in the changing room. You had to get changed downstairs at Odsal!

“I wouldn’t change that grounding. It got people out of their comfort zones pretty quickly.

“Lads would clean boots and paint stadiums – there were loads of different roles and they were certainly the making of players like Sam and I.

“It was a real grounding. We were probably the last generation of that.”

Burgess went on to become an NRL Grand Final winner, a South Sydney icon and an England legend, captaining his country at the 2017 World Cup final.

Ferres played alongside him at Test level – and he knows the coach can be as good as the player.

“Going to the NRL was certainly the making of Sam,” he added.

“And am I surprised to see Sam as a coach? No.

Ferres was in the Bradford side as Sam Burgess made his first team debut.Credit: SWPIX.COM

“There’s no reason why the majority of players shouldn’t be good coaches. You have a really good understanding about what goes on behind the scenes, what’s required and what’s needed.

“It can be a waste sometimes to not approach that and see if you are the right fit.”

Championship side Goole head to Warrington for today’s Challenge Cup tie was switched as their ground is not ready.

Another former England forward, Scott Taylor, coaches them but Ferres will lead the Vikings on the field, one month away from his 40^th birthday.

“When I first signed at Bradford, they spoke about having a good career if you’re getting just over 30,” he added.

“I didn’t envision still playing as I approach my 40th birthday. I’ve had some decent injuries within my career, but I’m certainly proud of what my body’s been able to achieve.

“When you get older, it’s less about lifting big weights and running massive distances. It’s finding what your body can do and how it best moves.

“Part-time rugby is tough. It’s been a real eye-opener, but it’s something I really wanted to experience.

Ferres is still playing, despite approaching his 40th birthday.Credit: SWPIX.COM

“It’s been really good for my career and really refreshing for me. What I’ve always tried to do, especially later on, is go for a bit of a challenge and something different.

“I’m not chasing games, I’m chasing the other experiences and different scenarios and challenges along the way.”

Ferres was no stranger to getting on the wrong side of crowds during his full-time career. Now things re similar in a part-time environment.

He told SunSport: “I’ve started doing some groundwork and digger driving, on roads when work for fibre and cables is going on.

“Obviously, I want people to still be able to shout at me, so I thought I’d get out and still be able to get some grief. It’s not too dissimilar.”