After so many near misses, it’s no surprise Salford’s Joe Burgess is desperate to finally become a Super League winner.
But given he played at trophy-laden Wigan for most of his career, the ex-England winger might never have expected to do so with the unfashionable Red Devils. However, Burgess - who lost three Grand Finals with Wigan and cruelly missed their 2018 win due to a ruptured ACL - firmly believes it is possible. They host his former club on Sunday knowing another victory will leave them in joint-second just two points behind leaders Catalans.
Burgess, 28, said: “It is a crucial part of the season now. It could really define the rest of the year for us. I couldn’t believe it the other week when Wigan lost two games on the bounce and fell down to sixth - and we went above them and two points off the top.
It’s amazing how tight it all is - there was just four points between leaders Catalans and Wigan in sixth at the start of this round - but it’s good for the comp'.
“I didn’t win much with Wigan. I won the League Leaders’ Shield and the World Club Challenge in 2017. But I’d moved to Australia in 2016 when they won Super League and when they did it again two years later I was out for the season with an ACL. I’m dying to get some silverware.”
Burgess scored 51 tries in just 58 games for hometown Wigan after breaking through in 2013. Having made his England debut, he switched to the NRL with Sydney Roosters three years later but things didn’t work out. Burgess did have a brief and prolific loan spell at South Sydney but headed back to Wigan and resumed with another 52 tries in 71 outings including a hat-trick in that World Club Challenge glory versus Cronula.
However, he’s become a big fans’ favourite after switching to Salford in 2021 with impressed boss Paul Rowley reckoning last year he was back to Test level standard. But they are smarting after seeing their Challenge Cup hopes dashed in last weekend’s quarter-final exit at Hull KR.
Burgess, a try-scorer in Wigan’s 2017 Challenge Cup final loss to Hull, conceded: “It was very disappointing. I really wanted to play at Wembley again. It’s such a mad experience there and I’m sure Salford would have brought a big chunk of fans down there from Manchester and around. But we’ve got all our eggs in one basket now - Super League: There’s the League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final to aim for and that’s the plan.”
Wigan, though, reminded everyone of their class with a brilliant display to defeat Warrington in last Sunday’s Cup quarter-final - despite seeing prop Kaide Ellis sent-off after just seven minutes. Burgess admitted: “It was a typical Wigan performance. They really dug in. It was so mad what happened at the start of the game with a crazy red card.
“But they defended hard and Harry Smith kept finding touch, slowing things down which really helped them while they also took their chances. It’s a big challenge ahead of us. But it’s crucial we beat Wigan on Sunday as we know we’ll go four points above them if we do. That gives us more breathing space.”
On his own form, he added: “I know I can improve and get better but you don’t want to peak too early. Hopefully I can build up to a big grand finale in the Grand Final. I still feel great and I do feel fit. Hopefully I can kick on and help some of the lads here gain a new experience at Old Trafford.”
