Sam Burgess may be leaving at season’s end, but boy is he leaving with a bang.
He is the form forward of the 2014 season and ‘Slammin Sammy’ is leaving the NRL at the peak of his powers. Currently tied with Jarryd Hayne on top of the Dally M leaderboard, it makes you wonder if have we ever seen a better forward in the NRL?
The only current player even comparable to Burgess is his arch-rival, Rooster Sonny Bill Williams. Sonny Bill Williams has been around a bit longer than Sammy has, making his debut all the way back in 2004, yet has only played 107 games in first grade – only 23 more than his South Sydney counterpart.
The two superstars have played each four times since Williams’ return from union, and the pair certainly throw the book at each other. Burgess has come up trumps on two of the four occasions (both for South Sydney) while Sonny’s only club win against Sam came in their Round 26 clash last year, with Sonny Bill walking away with not only a win, but also the J.J. Giltinan shield.
The most astounding part of the clashes though, is the man-of-the-match award. Sam has claimed the award in three of their four clashes, two for South Sydney and one for England in the semi-final against New Zealand in last year’s World Cup.
In their only other game, it was Sonny that was named best man on the park.
It was never easy for Sam. His father Mark tragically passed away with motor neurone disease, leaving behind his mother Julie and four young boys in Sam, Luke, Tom and George.
He also left behind a legacy, one that would be carried on through each and every son. Sam was Mark’s primary carer. He would pick up his father in the morning and carry him into bed of a night.
His older brother Luke has the poem read at his father’s funeral tattooed on his arm. The twins were just 14 when he passed away. The tight-knit clan, lured to Redfern by Souths owner Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe, has been through the roughest of times and pulled through it closer than ever.
Sam entered the NRL as a young man with a life full of hardship. He was labelled ‘Great Britain’s Sonny Bill Williams’ at the age of seventeen. When he walks out to play against his nemesis at season’s end, he’ll be labelled as the man who surpassed Sonny Bill.
He will be a man known not just by his on-field performances, but by his courage and his ability to do what is best for his family.
Jack Blyth
Roar Rookie
Around 10 days ago...
River Lad
Guest
Jimmy Fiddler, Merv Hicks, Jimmy Mills, Bill Ashurst, Dick Huddart.
Johnno
Guest
Andy Farrell! Paul Sculthorpe! Stuart Fielding! Kieren Cunningham!
BCH
Guest
Not bothered if we don't catch Souths. The Rooster premierships I've been alive to witness (4) are more precious to me than the ones before I was born. I expect that any South's fan would trade a couple of those pre world war 1 titles for having been in a GF in the last 40 years.
River Lad
Guest
Kevin Ward and Malcolm Reilly won premierships for their club over here last century. As yet, Burgess hasn't won anything for Souths. Going great guns, but JWH and SBW have won competitions. Burgess hasn't.
KB
Guest
Nelson, no one gives a $hit about rnd 1. Lets see how you shape up when the whips are crackin'....shall we?
KB
Guest
JWH is a better player than $am Burge$$..harder, tougher,more intimidating, far more brutal ..and better lookin'....
Damien
Roar Guru
No chance. Morley's gift was his defence not running. Burgess has both in spades..
KB
Guest
Adrian Morley is the best English forward this century..even $am will tell you that.
KB
Guest
Souths won a few during the War years...
Damien
Roar Guru
I'm not sure if you realise that Burgess & SBW have very different roles in their teams. Burgess' main role is to make as many metres and contribute to the defence as well as needed. SBW's is to make the big plays when the opportunity comes up and contribute as many metres & tackles. Everyone has different visions on a forwards role. Some only count metres & tackles while not considering the contribution that the forward makes to the big plays through skill. They're both great players. IMO Burgess is the best traditional forward going around (Gallen included) and SBW is the best all round forward due to his ball skills and footballing know how.
nerval
Guest
Alex, both Tuivasa-Sheck and Johnson - and indeed Whare - were marvellous in the World Cup semi-final… but please, if you have a recording of the game, do yourself a favour and watch it again. SBW was magnificent for NZ but Sam Burgess gave the greatest forward display I have ever seen. He utterly dominated the very good, but slightly over-rated Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and took the game to SBW as only a warrior can. He was the best player on the field by a distance. I'm as disappointed as anyone by Sam's misdemeanours last year, especially what he did to Chambers. He left England with a spotless reputation, and that is now tarnished a little. I simply cannot see a position for him in rugby union. He was born to play rugby league and soon he'll be gone...
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Fascinating subject... Let us just say Sam is the best English forward this century and Sonny Bill is the best Kiwi. If Paul Gallen is the best Aussie then he is a clear third. If we are talking about props only then then Jesse Bromwich has a good argument, he has only just turned 25 and continues to get better every week.
The eye
Guest
If I was playing for my life I'd want Sam on one side of me and Gal on the other..and if you class number 9 as a forward Cam Smith throwing us the ball..Sonny 4th best in a photo
Jack Blyth
Roar Rookie
IMO Sam Burgess is a better player due to his consistency. SBW, like many other stars e.g. GI, can go missing in games. Sure they turn up for the big games, but their effort is minimal in the smaller games. Burges goes all out in every game he plays, not matter it be against Roosters, Sea Eagles, Storm or Cronulla. He exerts 110% each and every game, something that Sonny has never done. I do agree that when Sonny is one, he is just about unstoppable. The same can be said for Sam. Saying SBW is better 'because he plays quiet sometimes but then has an awesome game' is basically saying that Sandow is better than Thurston. As the saying goes, consistency is key.
Mitchoh
Guest
Mate, the Roosters have been in the comp for 2 more years than South Sydney and won 7 less premierships. Doesn't really matter when. The Eastern Suburbs/ Sydney Roosters will never ever ever catch Souths.
River Lad
Guest
Max, I thought SBW was the difference in the 2nd half of the grand final last year. It was sheer brilliance by SBW that Burgess didn't have. However, Burgess is a better player this year than he was last year, not only because he has dropped the dumb niggling stuff from his game, but because coach Maguire has released the brakes. Burgess has put the offload back into his game. Last season he wasn't allowed to pass. Frankly, I don't like Burgess for his grubbiness, but he has been almost superhuman this year.
Johnno
Guest
Max He was magnificent. As good and most complete player as you can get. Broken neck ended his career at 25. Was told he risked never walking again if he played on. Could of been even greater. Still achieved alot by 25 would of done even more.
MAX
Guest
Hi Johnno, He was magnificent. A credit to the game. I agree he was better than Sam. If he was around today he could command >$750 ps From memory the poor bugger suffered a broken neck. Hope he recovered. Thank you MAX
Muzz
Guest
They will lose another 2 if not 3 games and are at $4.50 to win it which is about right. QLD are good value at $2.40