I’d love to know what is going on inside Sam Burgess’ head at the Rugby League World Cup – if there’s anything going on at all.
His swinging arm that felled Australia’s Sam Thaiday in the tournament opener at Cardiff was a shocker and I thought the judiciary would have handed him a two or even three match penalty.
Not so, for Slammin’ Sam. He got outed for just one game; the RLWC authorities clobbered him with the proverbial feather.
To me, Sam Burgess has become a serious worry, (hopefully) to himself and definitely for his club team, South Sydney.
Like many league followers, I marvelled at his abundant football skills when he first came to the NRL via persuasive words and a fat contract engineered by Rabbitohs’ benefactor, Russell Crowe.
He struck me then as an old-school, English forward: tough, highly skilled, creative, and with a vibrant personality that was destined to become infectious, an asset to the code.
Instead, my opinion on the big forward has gone completely sour. An alarming variety of cheap shots have surfaced in his game including a ‘pretend’ facial, ball tampering and now a reckless and dangerous high shot.
I am pretty sure he is well on the way to becoming one of League’s most despised players and he will certainly wear that tag unless someone has a stern word in his ear – fast.
A rampant ego seems to be central to Sam Burgess’ problems.
He – and all members of his family – have become Channel Nine darlings. Everything the Burgess boys and their mother do becomes feel-good fodder for the NRL’s free-to-air broadcasters.
This guy thinks he can do as he pleases and the consequences will be pretty close to negligible. They have been so far. I ask: is his ‘popularity’ reducing the penalties for his misdemeanours?
I cannot speak for you, but I have grown increasingly tired of it all and it seems to have had a detrimental effect on Sam and his on-field persona.
Does he feel he must prove himself to be the tough-guy, week after week? How on earth have this player’s priorities changed from exhibiting great skills to grubbiness in the space of two seasons?
I can only hope that wicked high shot on Thaiday and the subsequent one-game ban makes this talented footballer take a step back and wonder why his reputation as a top echelon player is plummeting.
But I think it’s all wishful thinking.
More and more, Sam Burgess is displaying the cheap and nasty traits of an athlete whose ego is transcending the physical gifts that taken him so far in the game.
Two years ago, he looked like being one of the truly great English imports to play rugby league in Australia.
At the moment, there is a genuine chance he will wind up with a reputation that belongs with his unsavoury antics: in the gutter.
Adam Everitt
Roar Rookie
"Not so, for Slammin’ Sam. He got outed for just one game; the RLWC authorities clobbered him with the proverbial feather." 1 game was fair enough considering this is a World Cup and we as a sport need our best out there all the time.
Emily
Guest
no.
MPF
Guest
Jared isn't a filthy player unlike others, the Rose incident was BS he was falling into it, was it worth the penalty yes the suspension no imo and remember he was hammered more from the loading than the offence. Like Morley I think he is penalised more on reputation and agressiveness, he's a hard hitting forward who hits it up with such force who is always trying to bend the line. Jared isn't in the same league in onfield filthiness as the squirrel gripper.
MPF
Guest
I have to agree there Inglis should have been fullback as he just doesn't come in and get involved from the centres, Jennings on the other hand is always hiting it up. Inglis is a great fullback but a lazy centre imo.
barfly
Guest
They did the same with Terry Hill, a known grub he was often overlooked by Nine during telecast of their games because of his employment with the Footy Show........................
edwardkelly
Guest
Hoppa was just checking the blokes oil level to ensure that he was fit to play
Mike from tari
Guest
Terry, what did you think of Stewarts high tackle right on Big Sammy's chin in the major semi, nothing done about that one, Sam was out of the game for about 1/2 hour, the same sort of shit was not put on him, yet we all know that Sam cops a lot on the field, when he gives it back he is labeled a grub, his mistake was clocking the Broncos Captain, sorry the Aussie second rower.
JZCarr
Guest
Agreed, Burgess is a grub. His "I'm tuff, I'm from da Norf of Engerland" routine has been laid bare, especially when he'll then lie down in tackles looking for penalties. And don't start me on the Burgess boys and their mother. I want to projectile vomit everytime.
BA Sports
Guest
Thing with those sliding feet to save tries. it was dangerous, which is why it has been banned, but Slater wasn't sliding feet first with the intent of hurting people, he was trying to stop tries. Prior to him doing it I had wondered for years why fullbacks didn't do it. So the act of saving tries with his feet doesn't make him a grub. I've seen Nathan Merritt do the same thing and no one would call him a grub.
Clark
Guest
It is funny how the media only began to turn against him as soon as he got out of South Sydney colours. And seriously, could you expect anything less from a guy who grabs the equipment of another player? probably one of the grubbiest antics, up there with biting and eye gouging.
soapit
Guest
perhaps because we have more than three stadiums south of the tweed.
Terry
Guest
Even Hard core Souths fans like myself know he has issues. Not Malicious but certainly a bit hot headed with some poor blood rush judgements.
Elijah Weightman
Roar Guru
That video still gives me goosebumps. That along with the Mark Coyne miracle try are two of my favourite pre Origin pump up videos.
Joseph Doueihi
Guest
I totally agree with Garry Russell_Sharam, and also think that channel nine has to take some responsibility too, as they keep wrapping him up in cotton wool,obviously a protected species.
Muzz
Guest
Who, Burgess or Slater or both?
Steve
Guest
Spot on my man- such a good post I agree that you had to put it up twice. On the near impossible off-chance that someone like Billy Slater were to commit a professional foul on, say, a Kiwi centre, I know for a FACT that Aussies would be screaming for the strongest possible punishment. Look at how Thaiday, Gallen et al have had to prove their sportsmanship and good conduct before even being allowed to represent their country.
russell johnson
Guest
Cheap shots on the paddock or on the web are the least incisive means of bagging - always hoping for better - real talk about real issues, and not just those that annoy you or are limited to affecting your own little patch!
Jak
Guest
a grub and cheap shot merchant. can't believe has so many apologists. sycophants!
Steve
Guest
It's weird isn't it? I mean, with good examples like Gallen, Bird and Slater, you'd think he'd be developing a clean game of delicate finesse. I think the most hurtful thing about this incident is that he went for Sam 'Gentle' Thaiday. What did Thaiday ever do to hurt anyone?
Steve
Guest
(Of course the WHINING is self evident!)