I was only born in 1984 and many decades of rugby league were played before that, but I want to ask Roarers today – has anyone seen a better English import than Souths’ ‘Slammin’ Sam Burgess?
Last Friday night against the competition leaders Manly, Sam was absolutely fantastic. He was tremendous, he was immense, and he was any other adjectives one can muster to describe his performance.
This might not have been his best-ever game for the Rabbitohs but the things he did were phenomenal and I feel compelled to write about them.
Digest the figures below and tell me there has been a better Pommy forward to play in this country.
Against Manly at the famous SCG, Sam Burgess:
• Completed 22 hit-ups for a hefty 231 metres
• Effected 34 tackles (including two definite try-savers)
• Made four tackle busts
• Produced two offloads
• Made two clean line breaks
• Scored a great try
Incredible stuff for any player in any game but this was the output from one player against the rampaging competition leaders and competition favourites. Very special stuff indeed from an incredibly tough and inspirational footballer.
The engine that drives Sammy B is amazing. And it doesn’t really matter if his coach decides to play him at lock, in the second-row or up at prop. Sam still gives the same high-octane output. This guy is truly phenomenal and his efforts are rubbing off on his team-mates.
I never saw the likes of Mal Reilly, Phil Lowe, Mick Stephenson or Dick Huddart play but I reckon it’s a safe bet these great English players never produced stats like those we saw from Sam Burgess against the Sea Eagles last Friday night.
The Burgess we are seeing in 2014 is a much better version than the one who hit a variety of headlines last year and the two years before that.
By and large, he has quit the niggling style of play that he had gained a poor reputation for. He isn’t seen out and about on the Sydney social scene very much, meaning he has much more focus on his football and on the Rabbitohs.
He is doing all he can to help Souths win the premiership that has eluded them for more than 40 years.
I believe Burgess will go close to winning the Dally M award and that’s a fair statement when you consider the likes of Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt are prime contenders.
I believe Souths will give the title an almighty nudge if Sam maintains such rampaging form in his last season in rugby league in Australia.
How can the Rabbitohs hope to replace him for next year and the seasons that follow? While they have signed Glenn Stewart, an international and a player of serious class, replacing Burgess will be an extremely tall order.
Enjoy him while you can Rabbitohs fans. This guy is proving – week after week – to be a very special import in Australian rugby league.
He might just be the best Pom we have seen playing premiership football on our shores.
YS
Guest
Best British forward, but best British player overall? I think Ellery Hanley might pip him for that nod. However, unlike Hanley, if he gets illegally taken out of a big game he has some brothers that can help fill the gap.
The Griffin
Guest
I have seen them all Hanley,Skene,Huddard,Morley the nearest any of them come to Sam Burgess was Malcolm Reilly he used to hit hard and give no quarter but Sam Burgess is head and shoulders above them all and I agree with you he is the best Pom to play RL in Oz.
Realist 1975
Guest
Today, Lamb would be either placed on report or just penalised given the inability of Referees to send off players committing blatant fouls.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Yeah I watched the game, which is why I remember Offiah's run with Odouenryan chasing him and getting nowhere. The club games where used to trial different players and sometimes they were terrible. GB even nearly lost to PNG. They should do those type of tours again because it made them more competitive for the tests, which were very exciting that year (unlike some of the one sided floggings that came later on). That was a good series with Australia winning 2-1 with a final match win of 16-10.
dallas
Guest
Webcke civoneciava Bailey omeley mason price kearns wiki Theres 7 props there, i was including all forwards aswell as burgess can play front and back row so you could easily name another 10. Morley was alright but he was no where near webcke and the like.
Sammy
Guest
Dallas, Adrian Morley is not as good as Sam Burgess, but from 2002 to 2004 Morley was certainly was in the top 10 front row forwards in the NRL.
Johnno
Guest
Chris Joynt that's his name, backrower for the Newcastle Knights in the 1990's. Daryl Powell played for the Balmain Tiger's and Gold Coast Seagulls in the 80's and 90's. So many English players have played in the NRL more than I thought surprised how many have, a large number.
Gee up
Guest
So did SKD and Mitchell Pearce and they wouldn't make anyone's best ever team unless it was park footy
Johnno
Guest
Alan Bateman Cronulla Sharks 1990's. Newcastle Knights had a good English import a back rower in the 1990's. Not Lee Jackson he was the hooker, but a good back-rower can't remember his name. Barry-Jon Mather the big centre had a run with the western reds in the 1990's. John Devereux had a stint with Manly in the 1990's.
Johnno
Guest
Jason Robinson never played in the NRL.
b ward
Guest
how many man of the match awards has Sam Burgess won this year. He destroyed the Manly forward pack last week. Ran through their backs, beat Jamie Lyon the a loose ball over 30 metres. He's the most dominant forward I've seen this year by a long way. Plays on the edge or middle, bends the line, great offloads and great short passing game. Defence is incredible. It's a shame the NRL are losing him to Rugby.
gee up
Guest
Jason robinson should maje that side
gee up
Guest
Agreed, I think sam held himself back last year trying to prove he is a better player than SBW, he was believing the hype, I suppose (rd26 v the roosters case in point, he passes twice after making line breaks the bunnies win) This year he has the belief and is playing for the team, he is a gun. Hopefully he stays injury free, with him in this form and a bit of luck, the bunnies give this year a real shake.
Sammy
Guest
Pomoz..... getting a bit off topic but Parramatta defeated Great Britain 22-16 that night - Friday 19th June 1992, Parramatta Stadium. The GB Lions squad boasted Ellery Hanley, Martin Offiah, Andy Platt, Garry Schofield, Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Phil Clarke, Dennis Betts and Gary Connolly. The Parramatta Eels were pretty weak in those days (1989 to 1995) - I certainly can't remember a single rep player at that time. 1992 was a very disappointing year for the Parramatta Eels - Peter Sterling was forced into retirement in Round 3 and the team finished 2nd last.
Ret
Guest
Offiah. Did you actually seem him play here? Sam has probably made more impact in 20 mins than "Chariots" managed in his entire farcical NRL career.
Ret
Guest
Reilly had the skills of a five eighth, and all the , well, thuggish, attributes of a top class forward of his era.He was the best of the Poms-eclipsing Watson, Bishop, Topliss, Norton,Hanley(one of the most gifted players I've seen, but his time here was too short) Schoefield, Morley,and modern era players Graham, George B and Widdup,However, through sustained high performance over 4 seasons in Australia, Sam, IMO, is the best of the Poms to play here.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
forgot to include James Graham in this list, what a player.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Big Sammy has been outstanding this season, his performance last week was his best for the Rabbits, incredible game. I rate him right up there with the very best English imports. I didn't see guys like Reilly, Stephenson and Gray play. For me the first Pom I was really impressed with was Kevin Ward, Adrian Morley a powerhouse, Ellery Hanley and Gary Schofield fantastic players. Chariots and Henderson Gill provided plenty of razzle dazzle while Gareth Ellis was terrific. If Burgess wins the Dally M which he should be in the mix then he should go down as the best ever.
Bruce
Guest
This is a no brainer.........Mal Reilly by the length of the straight.......what a footballer!!!....Tough and skillful. He was so tough he shaved with a machete and cut his toe nails with a chain saw........then went over to the piano and played 3 hours of Beethoven sonatas before heading off to have a little game of Rugby League..........where he regularly cut 'em to pieces.....could play.....leaves Sammy in his wake. I also have a soft spot (no not that one) for Brian Lockwood......what a ball player. He was the first player I saw run so close to the line you couldn't fit a sliver of paper between him and the defensive line before he unlodaded.....kapow...!!! Pity he averaged six tackles......per season....lol....
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Haha Jimmy, he wasn't tough but Chariots certainly had you off your seat though. He was so damn quick. I think he was the only winger to win man of the match in a challenge cup final when he scored two tries. One of them a 100m effort where he run through the entire team when they were pinned in the in goal. He certainly skinned a few wingers and fullbacks who foolishly showed him the sideline.