Tasks awaiting head coach Sam Burgess at Warrington Wolves

The legendary former South Sydney Rabbitohs and England forward will arrive in the coming weeks to formally take over as the club's head coach for - all being well - the next two years at least.

He inherits a team that has just exited at the first hurdle for the fourth play-off campaign in a row and is about to lose plenty of key personnel including hooker Daryl Clark and prop Tom Mikaele.

However, fresh blood is on the way in the shape of back rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon, outside backs Rodrick Tai and Wesley Bruines, with the additions of hooker Brad Dwyer and prop Zane Musgrove also set to be confirmed.

Here, we look at some of the things that could be sat in Burgess' 'in-tray' and his initial key tasks as he takes up his new role...

The Warrington job will be Sam Burgess' first as a top-grade head coach following a stellar playing career (Image: SWPix.com)

Build an effort-based team culture

The final few weeks of the season showed the way in terms of commitment and going into the trenches together – something that was sadly missing for much of the year.

It is critical Burgess establishes that as the bedrock upon which things will be built so that at no point is the team’s effort questioned.

Of course, it will take much more than that and the work of assistant coaches Martin Gleeson and Richard Marshall will be key in cultivating an effective style of play with and without the ball, but the bond between the players has to be where it starts.

It would be nice to see the acknowledgement of “little wins” within games encouraged – the big celebrations for scoring tries, key defensive interventions or forcing errors, getting around players when errors are made etc.

All of those things will help to convince people that the group is united and committed to each other.

Establish a strong working relationship with Chambers

The relationship between Burgess and Chambers is going to be crucial to any success Wire have in the coming years.

While the head coach will of course have a vital input in recruitment and retention decisions, Chambers will now be responsible for bringing in the right players at all levels of the club.

The two have been in constant communication since Burgess’ appointment was announced and that will only get more frequent when the new head coach arrives in the country, and it will be vital that they dovetail successfully.

Chambers’ appointment to the new role has been well-received and having a man with the club in his heart to help guide him surely cannot do Burgess’ chances of success any harm.

There is a not-insignificant off-contract list building for next year as well, with the likes of Joe Philbin and Matt Dufty among the 19 players about to enter the final year of their deals.

Many have club options and others like Stefan Ratchford and Sam Kasiano may be thinking of retirement, but it is a situation both men will have to work through sensitively as Wire know all too well the destabilising affect things like this can have on a squad.

Having been the team's interim head coach until the end of the season, Gary Chambers will now step into a newly-created director of rugby role (Image: Mike Boden)

Pick a half-back solution and stick to it

As things stand, probably the biggest point of contention within the Wire side for next year is George Williams’ partner in the halves.

With the final remaining overseas quota spot for the year expected to go to prop Zane Musgrove, whose arrival is expected to be officially confirmed imminently, they will not be able to recruit from the NRL unless one of their foreign contingent leaves.

An English half-back of the right quality would not come cheap so it appears Burgess has a simple “stick or twist” option.

Josh Drinkwater’s displays this year have come in for criticism aplenty from fans, with many advocating Warrington-born youngster Leon Hayes to replace him going forward.

Whether Burgess decides to keep faith with Drinkwater or make Hayes or even Riley Dean his new number seven, he could do with nailing his colours to the mast relatively quickly.

Could Leon Hayes be given the chance to partner George Williams in the halves (Image: Mike Boden)

Re-integrate Toby King sensitively

King’s return following the best part of 18 months in exile is a delicate situation that needs to be handled with care.

Few thought there was any future for the centre at The Halliwell Jones Stadium when he was allowed to join Huddersfield on loan last June and then spend this year at Wigan Warriors.

He was even quoted as saying he would like to remain at the DW Stadium, but a change in the salary cap rules made it a no-brainer for Warrington to bring King back.

Ensuring he is reintegrated successfully will be a big task for Burgess and if he gets it right, he will have an athletic and potent three-quarter at his disposal.

Toby King has enjoyed a successful season on loan at Wigan Warriors (Image: SWPix.com)

Connect with the community

An important task for any player or coach coming in from outside the locality and Burgess is no different.

Embracing the fact Warrington Wolves is the lifeblood of this community and that nothing unites the townsfolk more than the success of its rugby league side will be a very big part of ingratiating himself with the locals.

Despite his best efforts, you got the sense that was something Daryl Powell never truly got – his roots were too embedded in his native Yorkshire.

There are still plenty of fans unconvinced by Burgess’ appointment, so fully immersing himself in the town will do him no harm.