Burgess, Ellis call in the spies
David Beniuk AAP
Wed, Apr 06, 2011 - 6:38 PM
Recovering Englishmen Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis are relying on inside information to work out whether they'll face-off in Friday night's NRL clash between South Sydney and the Wests Tigers.
Burgess was named for the Rabbitohs this week to make his return from a shoulder injury at the Sydney Football Stadium but faces a fitness test on Thursday.
Ellis has been slated by the Tigers for a return in round six as he gets over an ankle injury, but Souths are far from convinced he'll miss out on Tim Sheens' injury-riddled side.
The dynamic pair have been a part of the Great Britain and England set-up since the younger Burgess' Test debut in 2007.
"I've not spoken to him," Burgess said of the Heritage Round showdown.
"I'm going to get somebody to ring him and see if he can get the inside gossip.
"But either way if he does play then I'll look forward to the challenge because he's a great player, but if he doesn't play I can't say I'll be too bothered."
As well as hoping to have Burgess back, Souths have named fullback Rhys Wesser (hamstring) and centre Dylan Farrell (shoulder), who scored a hat-trick on debut in the club's last clash with the Tigers, a memorable 34-30 thriller at ANZ Stadium in 2010.
There's been little good news for Sheens with a growing injury list, but Burgess remains wary.
"Injury-ridden or not I think the Wests Tigers are going to be a tough ask and I think it's the same scenario with any other team as well," he said.
"It was vice-versa last year when we played Wests Tigers towards the end of the year, we had a lot of injuries and people suspended, myself included, and we managed to get that win in extra time.
"So desperate teams are always desperate.
"I'm not saying the Tigers are desperate, I'm saying they've got a few injuries and a few boys coming in that are young and enthusiastic and doing a good job for them."
Meanwhile, Issac Luke's future remains in limbo after NRL boss David Gallop reiterated a dispute with the hooker's management needed to be resolved before his new deal can be registered.
"He needs to sort out his issue with his manager and Souths do as well," Gallop said.
"He's committed to signing a contract there but that issue around his agent agreement needs to be tidied up before we'll register it."
Souths boss Shane Richardson is confident there will be a resolution, although he would not comment on what Luke meant when he said earlier this week he had called in lawyers.
"He'll be right, he'll be in a Souths jersey for the next four or five years," Richardson said.
Luke's manager Gavin Orr says he has never been given a reason for the dispute.
"It's in the hands of the lawyers," he said.
"I've moved on and when they sort it out they sort it out."
