Tom Burgess has defended the conduct of himself and Roosters’ pack leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after the pair were slapped with bans following the feisty final that saw seven sin bins dished out by referee Ashley Klein.
The old “prop forward’s union” was out in force, with Burgess declaring there wasn’t much in the two high tackles that saw him cop a potential two-game ban, or the head slam that will likely sit his Kiwi counterpart down for the entire group stage of the World Cup after he was given three matches.
“It was a pretty fast-paced game when I came on and that probably didn’t help me with a few shots there,” said the Bunnies prop. “I didn’t think there was much in them.
“Once I got into it I felt good but obviously I copped a bit of a head knock towards the end. I will have to look back it but I know my head hit the ground pretty hard and I think his elbow was in there as well.
“I don’t want to get too interested in it really, it is for the judiciary to have a look at. He plays the game with aggression and intent, so he is trying to be an enforcer for his team. We play a contact game, so I will take the contact.”
Burgess’ hits had a massive impact on the game. He caught James Tedesco high, but escaped further punishment as referee Klein deemed the Roosters fullback had slipped into contact.
Had he been binned, it would have allowed Trent Robinson to activate his 18th man, Adam Keighran, due to foul play concussion rules.
Mere moments later, Burgess laid out Matt Lodge – his arm bouncing up off the ball – and was sat down for ten minutes. The NRL judiciary charged him for the Tedesco offence, resulting in a potential 2-3 match ban, but not for the Lodge tackle, for which he was fined.
“We knew it was going to be a fiery game,” he said. “Roosters-Rabbitohs, second week in a row, last chance footy so we knew everyone was going to be fired up and ready to go.
“It didn’t disappoint, obviously we would have liked to have kept a few more men on the field but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Sometimes emotions boil over in these games and you play off instinct and sometimes that instinct is a bit too far now, with the way the rules have changed over the last couple of years, with contact to the head.”
Burgess was later ruled out of the game with concussion after a head slam from Waerea-Hargreaves, and was also on the end of some rough treatment from future England teammate Victor Radley.
“I got whacked in the head by Radley and he was telling me to get up,” said Burgess. “I got up and there was no charge there.
“They are trying to get the head knocks out of the game but we are running at full speed so head knocks are going to happen. I always say that if your arm isn’t above your shoulder it shouldn’t be a penalty.”
He also revealed how himself and Taane Milne, who was also binned for a high tackle, had watched on from the sheds as Souths managed to score with 11 men against a full-strength Roosters.
“We were in the sheds together and we were watching it on the TV,” joked Burgess. “I was staying pretty calm, Taane was cheering a bit more than me. I’m a bit more reserved than Taane.
“I thought the boys did a great job to stay composed. The key is holding the ball and they held onto it and scored a few tries. We might just play with 11 men next week.”
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes mate. You'd think that a second sin bin offence for foul play would be off for the rest of the game
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Tony, the first hit may have been by Radley who was sin binned not Burgess on Tedesco. Regardless, surely you have lost the plot when sin bin a bloke a second time for exactly the same thing and do not send him off. I also not to-day that both JWH & Radley will both do extensive anger management training during the season break but I reckon the absence of Tedesco leadership during that game did not help matters much either
criag
Roar Rookie
His running style does sometimes make it more likely he will be hit when falling. But suggesting he is trying to get defenders to hit him in the head to get a penalty is a bit rich.
Justin
Guest
So the best you have . Is that there were plenty of other un penalised hits? How pathetic! Burgess knew exactly where Crichton’s head was. That’s why he lifted his arm & aimed at his head.
kk
Roar Pro
Getting together for a drop or two.
Scuba
Guest
I’m sure PVL wants the best players on the paddock. What does that have to do with Tom Burgess though? He’s a plodder that only gets a game because of who his brother is.
Tony
Roar Guru
Hoppa in charge of the match review committee. Absolutely brilliant. I love it.
Tony
Roar Guru
Don't worry, there'd be more than you think.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. But it's quite clear that Klein has no authority.
Tony
Roar Guru
Very perceptive. Apparently they're trialling this innovation in next year's magic round.
Tony
Roar Guru
It's for the good of the game. If Milne was suspended, Souths would have to play Paulo on the wing, and having both Paulo and Waqa Blake on the field at the same time would be embarrassing.
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
Or even a kangaroo, for that matter
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
May's deferred suspension was for an off field incident, not for an on field matter. May's on filed incident was dealt with immediately, as it should be. Off field incidents and discipline on the field are not at all equivalent. People are rushing into condemn May, but I would argue he should have been fined not suspended. Tedesco only got a fine for yelling racist comments. NAS gets a fine for smashing his forearm into somebody's head. May pulled somebody to the ground. The whole approach to discipline needs to be ripped up and started again, it is so inconsistent and illogical.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tom. It's like listening to Jeffrey Dahmer giving Jack the Ripper a character reference. "Just a small incision, just doing his job, not much in it all....".
Greg
Roar Pro
Noone complains when it happens in his other sport, why would he be concerned of it happening in rugby league?
Ben Pobjie
Expert
If there were a rule about not being a self-entitled numbskull the season would be called off.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Wonder what Michael Lipman, Jame's McManus & Royce Simmons think on the matter…I'd like to hear their opinion…while they can still form one… :crying: It's only a matter of time before there is a "class-action-lawsuit" against the NRL (as with the NFL)…wouldn't surprise me with the way the world is going, if individual cases start against players like JWH & Burgess. Seeing as they have no regard or are just plain ignorant to the damage they are causing...
Cam
Roar Rookie
I take your point, but I found this contest compelling on a level that we don’t often see in team sports. One thing I know for sure and certain, the NRL will be a much less interesting spectacle if they drive the likes of Victor Radley, JWH, Tom Burgess and NAS from the sport. I’m not saying bring back the biff or put John Hopoate in charge of the match review committee, but I’d hate to see the game lose it’s hard men and villains. As is human nature, most of those triggered about the optics of that match, will all tune in for the next iteration of Souths v Roosters.
Stingray
Guest
Rubbish! Crichton knocked himself out going in high to tackle Burgess. The high shot on Hodge saw TB in the bin. There were plenty of other high shots that weren’t penalised...and what about the pile drive of Murray’s forehead into the turf by super grub JWH...broken neck material there...CM was fortunate not to have been seriously injured!!