Rabbitohs set to announce Sam Burgess' immediate retirement
Michael Chammas
Wed 30 Oct 2019, 11:06 AM
Michael Chammas
South Sydney are preparing to announce the immediate retirement of captain Sam Burgess as early as Wednesday afternoon.In what is set to be a sad end to one of the most decorated careers of the modern era, NRL.com understands a shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the year will bring a premature end to his playing days.The Englishman is overseas, however South Sydney officials are preparing to announce his exit from the game by the end of the rugby league financial year, which ends on Thursday night.
South Sydney will now work with the NRL to determine how much, if any, of his four-year deal (believed to be worth around $1 million a year) will count in the salary cap. In 2019, Burgess was a shadow of the player he once was as he battled through the pain of a shoulder injury that dogged him throughout the majority of the season. It comes after a NewsCorp report that Brisbane Broncos veteran Matt Gillett could also be forced into retirement as he battles his own shoulder problems.
Souths are yet to make an official statement on Burgess' predicament but it is expected to be on Wednesday. It's expected South Sydney will enter the market place for a high profile replacement, pending an NRL decision on the salary cap implications of Burgess' retirement. Brisbane's David Fifita is a genuine option for 2021, however the Rabbitohs could go after Ryan Matterson given his ugly break-up with the Wests Tigers.
Fox Sports has reported St George Illawarra's Tyson Frizell has been mentioned as a potential target given the uncertainty about his future at the Dragons.
Michael Chammas
Wed 30 Oct 2019, 11:06 AM
Michael Chammas
South Sydney are preparing to announce the immediate retirement of captain Sam Burgess as early as Wednesday afternoon.In what is set to be a sad end to one of the most decorated careers of the modern era, NRL.com understands a shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the year will bring a premature end to his playing days.The Englishman is overseas, however South Sydney officials are preparing to announce his exit from the game by the end of the rugby league financial year, which ends on Thursday night.
South Sydney will now work with the NRL to determine how much, if any, of his four-year deal (believed to be worth around $1 million a year) will count in the salary cap. In 2019, Burgess was a shadow of the player he once was as he battled through the pain of a shoulder injury that dogged him throughout the majority of the season. It comes after a NewsCorp report that Brisbane Broncos veteran Matt Gillett could also be forced into retirement as he battles his own shoulder problems.
Souths are yet to make an official statement on Burgess' predicament but it is expected to be on Wednesday. It's expected South Sydney will enter the market place for a high profile replacement, pending an NRL decision on the salary cap implications of Burgess' retirement. Brisbane's David Fifita is a genuine option for 2021, however the Rabbitohs could go after Ryan Matterson given his ugly break-up with the Wests Tigers.
Fox Sports has reported St George Illawarra's Tyson Frizell has been mentioned as a potential target given the uncertainty about his future at the Dragons.