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I was only born in 1984 and many decades of rugby league were played before that, but I want to ask Roarers today – has anyone seen a better English import than Souths’ ‘Slammin’ Sam Burgess?
Last Friday night against the competition leaders Manly, Sam was absolutely fantastic. He was tremendous, he was immense, and he was any other adjectives one can muster to describe his performance.
This might not have been his best-ever game for the Rabbitohs but the things he did were phenomenal and I feel compelled to write about them.
Digest the figures below and tell me there has been a better Pommy forward to play in this country.
Against Manly at the famous SCG, Sam Burgess:
• Completed 22 hit-ups for a hefty 231 metres
• Effected 34 tackles (including two definite try-savers)
• Made four tackle busts
• Produced two offloads
• Made two clean line breaks
• Scored a great try
Incredible stuff for any player in any game but this was the output from one player against the rampaging competition leaders and competition favourites. Very special stuff indeed from an incredibly tough and inspirational footballer.
The engine that drives Sammy B is amazing. And it doesn’t really matter if his coach decides to play him at lock, in the second-row or up at prop. Sam still gives the same high-octane output. This guy is truly phenomenal and his efforts are rubbing off on his team-mates.
I never saw the likes of Mal Reilly, Phil Lowe, Mick Stephenson or Dick Huddart play but I reckon it’s a safe bet these great English players never produced stats like those we saw from Sam Burgess against the Sea Eagles last Friday night.
The Burgess we are seeing in 2014 is a much better version than the one who hit a variety of headlines last year and the two years before that.
By and large, he has quit the niggling style of play that he had gained a poor reputation for. He isn’t seen out and about on the Sydney social scene very much, meaning he has much more focus on his football and on the Rabbitohs.
He is doing all he can to help Souths win the premiership that has eluded them for more than 40 years.
I believe Burgess will go close to winning the Dally M award and that’s a fair statement when you consider the likes of Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt are prime contenders.
I believe Souths will give the title an almighty nudge if Sam maintains such rampaging form in his last season in rugby league in Australia.
How can the Rabbitohs hope to replace him for next year and the seasons that follow? While they have signed Glenn Stewart, an international and a player of serious class, replacing Burgess will be an extremely tall order.
Enjoy him while you can Rabbitohs fans. This guy is proving – week after week – to be a very special import in Australian rugby league.
He might just be the best Pom we have seen playing premiership football on our shores.
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