He helped deliver a premiership with a broken cheekbone. Now South Sydney legend Sam Burgess is being hailed as the man to help lead the club to NRL success.
Burgess has lifted the energy around Redfern and worked closely with the forwards since joining Jason Demetriou’s coaching staff over the summer after a year-long apprenticeship at Russell Crowe’s bush footy side Orara Valley Axemen.
The 34-year-old has been hands-on at training, challenged the senior players, and focused on getting the likes of Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow to up their aggression in defence. Burgess was known for being one of the most ruthless defenders in the game.
After five straight preliminary finals appearances, senior Souths players are backing Burgess to give them that extra one per cent. The early signs certainly looked good when Souths steamrolled St George Illawarra through the middle in Saturday’s Charity Shield. It is little wonder Wayne Bennett pushed hard to lure Burgess to join his own coaching staff with the Dolphins.
There were suggestions this week Burgess was about to appear on the latest season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here, but Souths officials confirmed there was only one contest the 34-year-old wanted to win.
Skipper Murray, who was deliberately seated next to Burgess in the dressing sheds when he first entered the NRL, told the Herald: “When he says something you listen because you don’t want to let him down.
Back in the burrow: Sam BurgessCredit:South Sydney Rabbitohs
“He’s very big on defensive processes and aggression and what that does for the team. Not only is he a good character and leader, but he’s also a great storyteller and communicator, and can communicate a message really well – he’s good at delivering messages in a way you want to listen and do what he says.”
Damien Cook, who played with Burgess, said: “Sam has that defensive mindset, he was always an aggressive player, and he’s definitely instilling some pride in how we defend for each other and on our line.”
Jai Arrow, the man brought to the club on a rich deal to replace Burgess when he was medically retired in 2019, said Burgess had stressed the need to “not lose your feet in tackles”, and apply attention to detail at every training session.
Burgess had also helped Arrow adjust to playing in the middle again after spending the bulk of last year on an edge.
Englishman Sam Burgess (second from right) and fellow assistant John Morris (second from left) remain two of the fittest at South Sydney.Credit:South Sydney Rabbitohs
Even Burgess’ younger brother Tom loved having his sibling back at the club, and noticed how the motivation levels had lifted every day.
“He has that winning mentality we need,” Tom Burgess said. “In footy now, everyone is fit and strong, but what is that difference to get you over the line? It’s that mentality, and he’s helping us out in that respect.
“He’s great to have around the forwards on game day and another motivating voice for us. Come game day, you can tell how much he would love to pull on the shirt again.”
Meanwhile, Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton will appear in an ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday following their late-night rumble outside a nightclub on February 5.
Sam Burgess and John Sutton celebrate South Sydney’s drought-breaking premiership in 2014.Credit:Getty
Wighton was charged by police with fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction, while Mitchell was also hit with a fighting charge, as well as affray and resisting territory public official.
The pair apologised for their actions at the time, and were allowed take part in the Indigenous All Stars game.
Murray said Mitchell had confided in his Souths teammates, and would not let the late-night incident impact on his football.
“I hope what happened the other week is a minor distraction in his preparation, and like Latrell does, he’ll let his footy do the talking,” Murray said.
“He spoke to me about it, he spoke to a few of the boys about it, but there were no hard feelings from any of the boys in the group. We always support our teammates when they’re going through a tough time.”
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