Warrington Wolves: Sam Burgess sets sights on NRL centre for debut Super League campaign
Sam Burgess has set his sights on one named NRL outside-back ahead of his debut season in charge of Warrington Wolves in Super League.
According to Code Sports, NRL and England legend Burgess is close to securing Morgan Harper from Manly Sea Eagles for the 2024 campaign.
Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Harper features at centre and made his debut with Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019 against Brisbane Broncos.
He went on to feature just one more time for the Bulldogs in 2020 before making the mid-season switch with Manly Sea Eagles in July that year after gaining an early release.
Harper, who turns 25 next Monday, has made 53 appearances for the Sea Eagles to date since the move, scoring 15 tries.
He also represented the Junior Kiwis in 2018, and has made just seven appearances in the current season under head coach Anthony Seibold.
Burgess, who was recently released from his assistant coaching duties at the South Sydney Rabbitohs earlier this week, will take over at Warrington on a two-year deal from 2024.
He has already made an ambitious play to land Melbourne Storm centre and Papua New Guinea international Justin Olam, according to reports, while brother Thomas was also linked with a move – although later rubbished by the Halliwell Jones Stadium outfit.
Burgess’ legendary status in the sport should see him attract new, exciting faces at Warrington next season, with fears of the side dropping out of the top six in the current Super League campaign.
The Wire started the season with eight consecutive victories to sit at the top of the Super League table, but form afterwards saw Daryl Powell lose his job with the Cheshire-based side.
Warrington have claimed just a further three wins since and sit fifth on the table on joint-points with Salford and Hull KR below, with Leeds, Hull and Huddersfield all pushing late for a play-off spot.
Players without deals at Warrington
Only two first-team players remain without deals beyond the current season at Warrington, while Daryl Clark’s move to St Helens has been confirmed on a three-year deal.
Centre Peter Mata’utia could be set for an exit at the end of the year, opening room for Harper to made the switch from Down Under.
Fellow outside-back Greg Minikin has also been linked with a move to promotion-hopefuls Featherstone at the expiry of his deal.
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