Sam Burgess is an enormous human and an incredible talent – scary large, scary good. He is also, unfortunately, leaving the NRL at the end of the year to transition to rugby union.
A ridiculous decision, of course, but one he has made nonetheless.
But in full credit to the big man, he hasn’t let his upcoming sea change affect his play. In fact, he seems to have reached a new level this season, impressing every time he runs out in the cardinal and myrtle.
If Sonny Bill Williams was considered the dominant forward last season, we need to invent whole new word for what Burgess has been in 2014.
And so we come to the Dally M Medal, rugby league’s night of nights, where the player of year will be crowned. Of course, each year ‘player of the year’ is generally interpreted as ‘in-form back of the year’. But not this year.
At the end of Round 16, voting on the Dally M went behind closed doors. At that stage, Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt was leading the count on 19 votes. Two former winners, Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston, were following on 18 votes, tied with buy of the year Gareth Widdop, and Burgess. Daly Cherry-Evans was on 16 votes, and Josh Reynolds had 15.
Now Thurston, Hayne and Widdop have all been in excellent form. In fact, all three were man of the match in their respective teams’ wins this past weekend. They are also unlikely to have other players in their team poach votes from them.
But Burgess’ form in his three games since Round 16 has been seriously impressive. He leads a monstrous Rabbitohs pack, and is as important to the Bunnies’ premiership charge as Thurston and Hayne are to the Cowboys and Eels.
In Round 17 against the Titans, he was unbelievable in a losing side, running for 177 metres and making 49 tackles. In Round 19, he ran for 204 metres and made 32 tackles against an understrength Eels side. Last round, he was slightly less effective, but still made 109 metres and 21 tackles.
If Burgess does manage to stand atop the podium come Dally M night, he will be the first forward to win the medal since Cameron Smith in 2006, and the first non-hooking forward to win since Cronulla’s Gavin Miller way back in 1989. He will also be the first non-Aussie winner since Gary Freeman in 1992.
There are six rounds to go in the competition, and in that time the Rabbitohs come up against Manly, the Cowboys, the Bulldogs and the Roosters. Big Sam always relishes the opportunity to take on the bigger and harder packs, and those four are arguably the best packs in the whole NRL. I can’t wait.
So Roarers, what do you think? Will Sam beat out Thurston, Hayne and Widdop? Will someone else be player of the year for 2014?
As a Dragons fan, I hope Widdop wins it and leads the Saints into the finals, where we will crash and burn as St George Illawarra has proud history of doing.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Seejay - Hate to be pedantic but neither Beetson or Coote played football within the last thirty years they were both retired well before 1984.
Kris
Guest
But Rugby League is a better game. Fact.
Kris
Guest
But that's NZ. When was the last time Burgess was able to beat the the Australian pack? Id Have Matt Scott, Parker and Gallen any day over Burgess.
Cowboys
Guest
I'm sure you haven't seen JT play, he is in everything.. Okay misses a few tackles each game, the bloody forwards target him as the main weakness in a huge pack.. Still who is the first make a tackle after J.T is pushed aside and the line broken... J.T is, absolute legend and has never given up. Watch Grub play, J.T has played with the same enthusiasm throughout his whole career. Just without the aggression and sometimes dirtiness Grub brings.
Cowboys
Guest
I believe it coincides with the Shark currently in bottom position..
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I'm still cool. Cool as the bottom of the ocean
Adrien
Guest
Definitely. however i couldn't find a link to prove it so you're in your right if you don't want to trust me, but i've read it somewhere and i was actually shocked but just can't find where i read it. I typed "sam burgess england under 16" on google and it gave me 230k results so it's hard to find the good link sorry mate.
Adam
Guest
Actually it just depends who is commentating. Sometimes the TV commentator picking MoM is also a dally M voter. How many more Nine games do Souths have? That will have a big impact on Sam's chances.
The spectator
Guest
Haha lemming! What happened squid you use to be cool? Now a troll!
nerval
Guest
He has won Test series for England, actually - as a teenager for England v NZ. His monstering of FuiFui Moi Moi is legendary.
nerval
Guest
Adrien, this is the first I've read or heard that Burgess played 5/8 for England under16. Are you sure?
Scrubbit
Guest
If he was australian we probably wouldn't hear about him much. I'd put him on par with an in for Aiden Tolman.
Scrubbit
Guest
They'd be opinion. No way burgess has had 6 points his last 2 games.
Reid Alderbooks
Guest
A ridiculous decision to go to rugby? Maybe he is interested in: - More Money - Playing Test Rugby infront of Full Stadiums every game - Playing in front of a TV audience of over 20 million for one game (RWC) - The Olympics - Playing all over the World
Damien
Roar Guru
I agree. IMO Burgess is the Collision King. I think Sam was buggered by the time he got tackled (it was a long sprint) because he didn't do much after contact and got driven back easily. Sam's run over SBW I think is better. To be fair to SBW though he didn't time his hit well. He launched too early (nerves ?) and when contact was made with Burgess he was too high and didn't have his legs grounded enough to brace for the impact. SBW put an awesome hit on Burgess in their World Cup match unfortunately Elijah Taylor spoilt the spectacle of it by hitting Burgess back into the line that SBW had just hit him. If Taylor had left SBW to complete the tackle Burgess would have gone flying..
Damien
Roar Guru
I disagree TB. Sam Burgess NEVER goes missing. He may not be as effective when teams put him off his game but he never stops giving 100% which is a huge difference from going missing. That game against Manly where King handed out the punishment is a myth. I'll admit he did take it to the Burgess boys and he put a bell ringer on Luke Burgess but that was it. The Burgess boys still had a good game and never went into their shells. Luke Burgess smashed him in return but it wasn't as spectacular as Kings one. King was calling out Sam Burgess and Sam ran at him but the collision was never that great. King played 29mins for 50m & 14 tackles. Sam Burgess played 80mins for 130m & 36 tackles. Against the Tigers, Burgess was contained well again but his numbers were still decent. Sam played 74mins for 130m & 32 tackles while Woods played for 56min for 141m & 25 tackles. Comparing Sam Burgess & SBW isn't that fair because they both have different roles in their teams. The best comparison I think to make would be who is contributing more to their team winning. Last year SBW contributed more to the Roosters premiership than Sam Burgess did to the Rabbitohs season. Right now Sam Burgess is having a better season and contributing more to the team. Come finals who knows what will happen. Maybe SBW will come alive or Sam Burgess will go to an even higher level. IMO Sam Burgess is the best traditional forward I've seen and SBW is the best big play/game breaking forward I've seen. Sam's sporting career may not be as decorated as SBW's but that doesn't diminish how good a player he is..
Mitchoh
Guest
Here here!
Muzz
Guest
Yep, that front on footage, watching the Dogs Jam in and Sam's facial expression is insane!!! Gives me goosies. Love or hate Sam, he is VERY entertaining as The eye pointed out some time ago.
Damien
Roar Guru
The most impressive thing about it to me was that Burgess eyed out the smallest guy in front of him and Ennis stood his ground. Looked awesome though..
Muzz
Guest
Not too keen on anything Souths but this hit-up is impressive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xveTwD7u0