Sam Burgess’ early exit from rugby union moved a significant step closer with the arrival in England of the NRL’s head of strategy Shane Richardson to discuss a possible return to Sydney.
Richardson, who as South Sydney chief executive finalised the team’s signing of Burgess from Bradford six years ago, has flown over for the Test series between England and New Zealand.
But Press Association Sport understands, he will also seek to negotiate a deal to buy the dual-code international back from Bath using the marquee player fund implemented by outgoing CEO Dave Smith to attract and keep big name stars in the NRL.
If Burgess decides to return to the 13-man game in Australia, his salary could reportedly be worth up to $1.5 million a season plus uncapped third-party deals.
According to NewsCorp Australia he will make more than Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith and the game’s No.1 player Johnathan Thurston and become the NRL’s highest earner.
Richardson, who left Souths at the same time as Burgess to take up his current role, was a guest of Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood at Twickenham for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final and was present at the first rugby league Test match between England and the Kiwis at Hull’s KC Stadium.
It is clearly the remit of Richardson to remove the only stumbling block to Burgess’ return to the 13-man code – Bath’s insistence on the return of the bulk of the STG500,000 ($A1.08 million) they reportedly paid to the Rabbitohs only 12 months ago.
The 26-year-old Burgess, who was a controversial selection for England’s World Cup squad ahead of more established players, has two years left of his contract with Bath and is due to return to the Aviva Premiership club on Monday after being given time off to consider his future.
However, Bath coach Mike Ford admitted the player “didn’t quite feel right” when he initially returned from his unhappy stint with England during their failed World Cup campaign and Press Association Sport understands he told his former rugby league team-mates at their international with France last weekend that he has played his last match of rugby union.
A stark comparison between the almost hysterical criticism heaped on Burgess for his inability to make a bigger impact in rugby union and the idolatry he still enjoys in Sydney, where he defied a shattered cheekbone to lead them to a first premiership for 43 years, makes his return to the Rabbitohs inevitable.
Super League champions Leeds have been linked with a move for the Dewsbury-born player but Burgess clearly feels he has a loyalty to Souths after they agreed to release him early from his contract to enable him to pursue his dream in the 15-man game and also to owner Russell Crowe, the Hollywood actor who lured him to his beloved Rabbitohs six years ago and with whom he remains close friends.
Younger brothers Tom and George recently signed new contracts which will keep them at the club until the end of 2018 while older brother Luke plays for another Sydney club, Manly Sea Eagles, and their mother Julie lives in Sydney after emigrating to Australia four years ago.
In addition to those family ties, Burgess is known to have plans to marry his Australian girlfriend Phoebe Hook in Sydney in December which all points to a confirmed return within days.
Cedric
Guest
I've always thought let them go if they want to try something else, plenty of talent coming through. Jarryd and Sam have shown how tough it is to make it in another sport, even SBW is a reserve for the All Blacks after spending a few years there. I think only Brad Thorn made the transition.
kid
Guest
There is a place for marquee player payments but it must be fair. Therefore i suggest a player can be signed by the nrl for any price but the player must play for the club willing to repay the nrl the most for his services. Eg burgess gets 1.4m from nrl and souths might offer 900k and gold coast 1mil he would have to go to gold coast.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It probably is a beat up. Who knows? But if not, I don't think it would open much at all. Sam Burgess is a genuine superstar in rugby league. If they don't use the war chest for him then I really don't see them using it for anyone else. But I'm not a fan of the whole war chest concept anyway.
Cedric
Guest
surely is a beat up. Payout Bath and Sam becomes highest earner in NRL. That would just open the floods gates to all the super talented to try their hand at another sport, knowing if they fail the NRL will bring them back for maybe even better money. It surely can't be happening like that, or maybe at a lot less money?
Fiddlesticks
Guest
True
Samtwocan
Guest
I suspect you are probably on the money here Snake. I don't read any news papers or watch current affairs due to the fact that everything these days us a beatup designed to get you emotionally charged , the end result being you offer a financial gain to these already filthy rich scumbags.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I hope you're right.
Snakefingers rise
Guest
This is all another news limited beat up, Burgess ain't coming back anytime soon. It's slow news day again and the media need to manufacture stories to sell advertising. First it was Walker making way for Burgess then it was McQueen. Both on the same day. Now Richo is going over to bring him back, Richo is going to Paris nothing to do with Burgess. Burgess will Honour his commitment to Bath Rugby. The NRL will only use funds to retain a player not entice players who already have left to return. Typical News LTD nonsense like the failed Phil "the dill" rothsfields failed trip to the U.S. To see Hayne only to see nought. So the manufactured News story about 49,s bringing the game to Aust. Just another shite story from News Ltd. so you can buy a newspaper.
Parra
Guest
So do I. Hate seeing someone or thing not reach their, it's full potential. It also appears obvious that Richardson would not fly all that way unless there was a good reason for it.
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
I hope your right
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
Agreed Re the murky war chest, the best thing Dave Smith did in that regard was not to use it. I don't think the money should be used to lure stars back, but rather to stop them leaving.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The dogs ended up getting 750k compensation which SBW borrowed from Mundine to pay out of his own pocket. Burgess could be sued for breach of contract if he just walked out without a clearance from Bath. Transparency is the key. The whole war chest concept has been murky since it was first announced with no clear guidelines or procedures. Who qualifies? Who doesn't? The NRL wouldn't even register Folau's contract with the Eels a few years ago but now they'll kick in cash to sign another convert returning to the code.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Unfortunately, TB, I have to agree with you. It should all be transparent, but at this stage it appears quite murky. I hope Sam comes back to us but in a totally legit way. The article says Burgess' contract would have to be bought out. This may be a naive question, but what would happen if Sam just walked out on his contract at Bath ? When SBW walked out on the Bulldogs, was there any call for compensation from the RU to the 'Dogs, was there any legal action taken ? I really can't remember. When Jarryd Hayne left the Eels, did he have to buy out his contract?
parra
Guest
I suspect the whole of game review is complete, has been signed off by the commission and as it involves the superleague and international rugby league will need signoff there as well. It the outcome of the review paper is likely to be released before Christmas with a view to implementation 2018. This is an important document as it covers all aspects of the game from grassroots to international competition etc and has implications for the next or remainder of the TV rights deal. My view is that the second tier, NRL, International games and other tournaments will be aligned with the Europe and the rest of the world over a 4 year period between world cups that will mean finally the future structure of the whole game domestic and international will be known and fans especially will now be able to plan ahead etc. This is all speculation but I suspect I'm close.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Richardson is over in the UK,as an Aus delegate to the RLIF meeting being held there and to attend the tests.The media seem to be the ones bneating up the story having a meeting with Burgess to woo him back with the big dollars.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The only way the NRL should have a say if they kick in any money is to direct Burgess to a club of its choosing and that has to be a club in need of good players. Teams like Canberra or Newcastle or Parramatta orthe Gold Coast. Of course we all know that this will never happen. Even if the NRL kicks in we all know Burgess will go to Souths or Easts or Canterbury.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks Ken...I was hoping that this would be the case. On re-reading the article it feels like it was written to lead people to the conclusion that the NRL were paying the transfer fee but without directly coming out and saying so.. Given how linked Souths, Burgess and Richardson have been I think it would be a much better look for the game if Richo stayed out of the way of this one. The question remains though....what happens if another club comes up with a better offer than Souths? Say the cost of signing Burgess is $1.5M and Souths are paying $1M with the NRL kicking in $500k. What happens if the Dragons offer $1.2M. Does the NRL still kick in the $500K making the Dragons package $1.7M? Does the NRL drop its contribution to $300k meaning Souths offer is only $1.3M vs the Dragons $1.5M? Does the NRL top Souths' offer up by $500k and the Dragons by only $300k? Can the NRL direct Burgess where to play if they are kicking in? Will the NRL still contribute if Burgess says Souths is the only team he'll play for regardless of what other offers are out there. I think it would be brilliant to see Burgess back in the NRL and probably best if he's with Souths but this is a massive can of worms with no clear processes or precedents. It seems incredibly inappropriate for a guy who has held a senior position with a club, who signed the player in question (and his three brothers), then negotiated the release and transfer fee of the player lout of the club to now be involved in the return of the same player to the same club but now representing the NRL.
Steve Jobs
Guest
That was always the stumbling block with this fund. How do you equate the NRL chipping in on any player with the idea of equality and salary caps et al ? The only way this could work in my view is for the NRL to offer him a contract to come back to Australia and then to sell Sam on the open market to any club with the highest bid. Any other process I can think of is unfair.
Ken
Guest
Richardson was quoted in the SMH this morning saying that no NRL money would be used to pay salary or transfer fee. But you're absolutely right that it would be a terrible decision if that turned out to be the case.
Steve Jobs
Guest
"If Burgess decides to return to the 13-man game in Australia, his salary could reportedly be worth up to $1.5 million a season plus uncapped third-party deals" If I left my job tomorrow to return to my old job on the checkouts at Coles, my salary could be worth upto $3.5 million a year plus bonuses. Both of those statements are true