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Sam Burgess off to rugby union in 2015? Good luck to the big forward, but there will be no tears from me, maybe not even a frown.
This is 2014 and professional athletes all over the planet are pretty much free to chop and change their sporting preferences if opportunities (and big, big bucks) present themselves.
Sam says he has always dreamed of becoming a dual international, and when the moneymen from Bath rugby came knocking, all he needed was some shrewd negotiations with his current employer South Sydney and the door was swung open.
The rugged front-rower has his eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup in his native England and feels that six or seven months will be enough to make his mark on the 15-a-side code.
I say that’s a rather ambitious plan – it’s doubtful any forward could learn union’s complex rules and nuances in less than a season – but that is what he’ll be trying to do. Again, the best of British to Slammin’ Sam.
In the NRL, Souths have his services for just one more season and now that he’s leaving and his future is settled, it’s reasonable to expect a big showing from Burgess and his locker room full of brothers as the Bunnies strive to win their first premiership in decades.
I don’t think anyone in rugby league should be unduly worried or concerned about today’s announcement by South Sydney.
It will be an amicable parting between Sam and the club (which will receive handsome compensation of $900,000 from Bath as he had two years to run on his contract).
The Burgess departure doesn’t necessarily mean there is, or will be, a sudden exodus of league stars to the union ranks. He is one individual who has a career ambition and has found a way to go for it.
Perhaps the only aspect the league authorities should be looking at is the poor timing of the Burgess announcement.
The code hasn’t even begun its 2014 season and here is a big name player attracting headlines because he is departing.
Many in the game are pushing strongly for the NRL to set a rigidly-enforced transfer window in either mid-season or at the end.
The transfer window period would receive publicity for player movements at that time and no other.
On a lighter note, the impending loss of Burgess to rugby union might cause some heart palpitations at Channel Nine.
They’ve already lost favourite son Benji Marshall from The Footy Show and now they’ve got to prepare for the loss of ladies’ favourite, Burgess.
I guess there are plenty more Burgii to choose from.
I just hope the one Fatty and co choose goes on the show with his pants on.
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