Sam Burgess risks being denied the chance to coach Warrington in Las Vegas next weekend because of visa dramas.
The South Sydney premiership winner who is now coaching in the Super League is yet to have his visa formally approved.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Burgess was yet to receive the green light to travel to America, and there remained a chance he would not make it to Allegiant Stadium where his Warrington will play against Super League champions Wigan.
Several NRL players who have had matters dealt with by police, no matter how minor, have had to be interviewed by the US consulate before having their visas approved.
Sam Burgess is sweating on his visa being approved in time for next weekend’s rugby league action in Las Vegas.Credit: Getty
Manly’s Luke Brooks, South Sydney pair Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton, as well as Brisbane’s Reece Walsh were just some of the big names who had to visit the US consulate last year.
This year, players from the Warriors, Cronulla and Canberra, including their trio Josh Papalii, Tom Starling and Joe Tapine, were all formally interviewed before having their paperwork approved.
Burgess pleaded guilty to three driving offences in 2021, but avoided conviction and completed a traffic offenders program.
In his first year of head coaching, the 36-year-old took Warrington to within one game of last year’s Super League final.
Warrington will face Catalans tomorrow (AEDT) before flying to America. Martin Gleeson and Richard Marshall are Burgess’ assistants, and would naturally take charge should Burgess run out of time.
Penrith and Cronulla lock horns in Vegas, as do the Warriors and Canberra, while there is just as much interest in Warrington because of Burgess, who remains popular with NRL fans.
Meanwhile, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan said he had paid little attention to the injury dramas at South Sydney ahead of Saturday’s Charity Shield, and was only focused on making sure his own stars survived around 50 to 60 minutes of game time.
Souths were dealt a double blow on Wednesday when Cameron Murray ruptured his Achilles, which is expected to rule him out the season, while a hamstring injury will keep Latrell Mitchell out of action for up to eight weeks.
Mitchell was named to captain Souths for the Charity Shield, which will be played in front of just under 10,000 fans in Mudgee.
Flanagan will roll out close to a full-strength side, including former Bunnies Lachie Ilias and Damien Cook.
“We could be playing the Terrigal Sharks, it wouldn’t matter who we play tomorrow, we’re just going out worrying about ourselves,” Flanagan said.
The only players who remain unavailable are Jacob Liddle (hand) and Blake Lawrie (hamstring). Lawrie is expected to be fit for round one against the Bulldogs.
Tyrell Sloan also returns from a foot injury against Souths, but will be kept to a brief second-half cameo.
