(Credit Matt Turner & WG)

SAM Burgess has played down reports of a rift between himself and one of the key members of his Warrington Wolves side.

Following the end of the 2024 season, rumours started to circulate of a falling-out between Burgess and prop Paul Vaughan, with the latter then heading back home to Australia for the off-season break.

As such, there was speculation aplenty that Vaughan had played his last game for the club, with reports on both sides of the globe linking him with a move back to the NRL with Parramatta Eels.

However, Vaughan returned to England to start pre-season training earlier this month and Burgess insists he remains a big part of his plans moving forward.

“I love Vaughany and I love what he brings,” he said.

“There’s always speculation about a lot of players but with Vaughany, there was a little more than usual.

“From my point of view, I love him being at the club and he’s a big part of what we’re doing.

“I was never making any noise that I wanted him to go anywhere, so I’m happy he’s here.

“He’s been great in pre-season since he’s been back, so it’s been good to have him back around.”

Talk surrounding Vaughan’s future is unlikely to die down, given he is among the Wire players entering the final season of their contracts with the club.

And as a result of a change in the rules surrounding recruitment, players in Vaughan’s situation are now free to discuss deals for 2026 and beyond having previously had to wait until May 1.

Regardless, it would appear Vaughan will be staying for 2025 – but will he be joined by any more new players?

Sam Burgess offers Warrington Wolves recruitment update
Burgess has added three new players to his squad in half-back Oli Leyland, second-rower Dan Russell and rugby union convert Alfie Johnson and refused to rule out any more incomings.

However, he insisted he would be more than happy to go into the new season with the squad he currently has.

“It’s always a fluid market and we’ve got a tiny bit of cap space, so we’ll keep the door open in case something pops up,” he said.

“For now, we’re pretty settled and comfortable with the squad we’ve got.

“I’m really happy with what we have – you never know how things might turn out with injuries and things like that but I’m very confident in the squad.”

[quote="Or thane":53t3lqhq]Mikolaj Oledzki from Leeds, quality prop when in form, and off contract at the end of the year. Wouldn't mind him at all.[/quote:53t3lqhq] I think he’s a confidence player. Very good or very poor. Might go well under Sam.

I disagree. Oledzki has been useless for a few years. Not sure what the hype is about personally. Our bar should be set higher than this.

[quote="wirecation":31mobuet]I disagree. Oledzki has been useless for a few years. Not sure what the hype is about personally. Our bar should be set higher than this.[/quote:31mobuet] Totally agree, very overrated never punched his weight

I wouldn’t put him down as the ‘pack leader’ we’re going to need to replace Vaughan. Probably a better option than Musgrove though I’d say as bench prop - though I’d prefer someone with more impact.

No secret that Wigan have made some enquiries but the reality is they have no cap space and there are no dispensations for signing Salford players so they aren’t in a position to move on Brierley. Would be a great Ryan Hampshire replacement. Seen that posted by Matthew Shaw. It’s been quiet for a while on the Salford front.