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Rumours are spreading that Sam Burgess is leaving the South Sydney Rabbitohs to appease his ego and prove himself at rugby union, in the vain hope he’d actually be good enough to play in the 2015 World Cup.
It’s disappointing to hear these rumours from a South Sydney perspective, because he is under contract at this club until 2016 and Sam owes the club.
To think Sam Burgess would walk out on the club that made him the international superstar he is and gave his family the chance to prove themselves on the big stage is quite disheartening.
I’ve met Sam several times, he is a wonderful bloke, always has time for anyone that comes his way, and his brothers are the same.
They aren’t the hyped-up media pin-ups the social pages so often portray them as, and for that I reason I just can’t see Sam walking out on the club that has given him so much.
However, speculation such as this doesn’t usually come out unless there is some ground to it, and the silence from not only Souths but Sam as well is sort of deafening.
Regardless of my personal feelings towards Sam, the fact of the matter is over the last two seasons, Sam Burgess hasn’t really lived up to his ability.
He has become more of a liability to the side than the reliable captain the side has so often needed him to be. He has become unreliable and too ill-disciplined.
During the 2013 season, when Souths had their backs against the wall and need someone to lift them, Sam would go on and produce an ill-disciplined play, get himself either sent off or on report, and would go on to miss crucial matches in the week to come.
That scenario was too consistent for any Souths fan to comprehend.
This man was supposed to be a leader, but the example he was leading to the rest of the South’s side was frustrating and intolerable.
I am not taking anything away from his ability, because when he is in the mood the boy can play.
He has magical feet, speed that forwards shouldn’t have and a passing ability many other forwards in the league would be envious of, but of late he has been focusing too much on being a ‘grub’ rather than practicing the skill that Souths employed him for.
He has become one of the most hated forwards in our game, because he is a grub.
I don’t blame opposition supporters for hating the guy, because the things he does on the field is unnecessary and unwarranted.
The best way to get under your opposition’s skin is to play your trade to the best of your ability, not grab any hanging body part that you can get your hands on.
If Sam is ‘that guy’ and walks out on Souths to appease his ego, be my guest, because it won’t be the worst thing to happen to Souths, not even close.
We have many boys on the sidelines and in our junior ranks that would give up everything for a chance to wear that cardinal and myrtle jersey and give their absolute all, without having the need to appease their ago.
If he leaves, then so be it. I won’t be crying a thousand tears and fearing for Souths’ future. Rather, I’ll be thankful in a way that this liability won’t cost Souths as much in seasons to come.
If he stays, well then OK – that is what’s expected of a player who is earning above average wage and is contracted to a club which has gone above and beyond to accommodate him and his family.
I don’t hate you Sam, I think you are a wonderful player who is a game changer when you are in that sort of mood, but more often than not in the past season or two you have become an unreliable, attention-grabbing grub.
Stay or go, just get on with it already, our club has way more important issues on the agenda than what code you feel like playing.
If you are to go, get on with it, and go. Andrew Fifita isn’t really a bad replacement is he?
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