Sam Burgess lined up for a shocking new career move that could see NRL legend and pregnant partner Lucy Graham leave Australia

Sam Burgess has been linked with a shocking career move that could see the NRL legend leave Australia and return to his native England.

Burgess, 34, has emerged as a surprise contender for the Warrington coaching vacancy, after former Gold Coast Titans boss Justin Holbrook turned down the Super League club.

Holbrook opted to join the Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach and News Corp reports that Warrington has now turned their attention to a number of Australian-based coaches to fill the role.

Cronulla assistant coach Josh Hannay is also said to be in the running alongside Burgess – who has let it be known that he has his sights set on becoming head coach.

Burgess retired from footy in 2019 after an award-winning career in England and Australia. He won the premiership in 2014, the Clive Churchill Medal that same year and was named in the NRL team of the decade for the 2010s.

Burgess, 34, is expecting his third child with new partner Lucy Graham

Taking the Wolves job would mean leaving Australia for the UK. Burgess shares two children with his ex-wife Phoebe and is expecting a third child with new partner Lucy Graham.

“We are so excited and happy to start this new chapter together… Have a great day,” he said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia in March.

Lucy, who is from the UK, made the decision to move Down Under permanently and it is believed that her pregnancy was the reason.

Burgess is a loving father to his two children Poppy, four, and son Billy, three, with his ex-wife Phoebe Hooke, and while he can’t see them as often as he’d like, he cares for them unconditionally. .

Friends say they are “extremely excited.” Sam starts a new chapter with Lucy by his side.

‘He’s crazy about Lucy. It’s been a whirlwind, but she’s a wonderful woman. They get along so well. All his friends are so happy to see how happy he makes her,” said a close friend.

“The burghers are very family oriented and I think there was always a plan to start a family. From what I hear, she’s really good to him. When they’re together they seem to be laughing all the time – she’s killing it.”

Burgess and Graham have been publicly dating since last November

Born in West Yorkshire, England, Burgess has known Lucy for about 20 years.

Her identity was revealed last October after he took her as his date to the premiere of Russell Crowe’s film Poker Face in Rome.

Lucy is the co-founder of sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019.

Sam found love with Lucy after a series of flings that followed his acrimonious breakup with Phoebe in January 2019.