George Burgess (rugby league)

George Burgess (born 21 April 1992) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Super League, and the England Knights and England at international level.

George Burgess
Personal information
Born (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992
Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England
Height194 cm (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Weight128[2] kg (20 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–19 South Sydney 150 13 0 0 52
2020– Wigan Warriors 1 0 0 0 0
Total 151 13 0 0 52
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012 England Knights 2 2 0 0 8
2013–18 England 15 2 0 0 8
As of 27 October 2019
Source: [3][4][5]

He previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

Background

Burgess was born on 21 April 1992 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. His father, Mark Burgess who died of Motor neurone disease, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet;[6] whilE his mother, Julie, is a teacher, currently employed at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.[7] His eldest brother Luke, middle brother Sam, and elder twin brother Tom, are all professional rugby league footballers as well.[8] Burgess attended Castle Hall Academy to receive a secondary education before becoming a professional rugby league footballer.

His twin brother Tom Burgess, and older brothers Sam Burgess and Luke Burgess are also professional rugby league players where they all played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[3][4][5]

Early career

George represented England against the Australian Schoolboys in 2010 while playing lower grades and training with the full squad of the Bradford Bulls. On 1 January 2011 George was signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs to play in the National Youth Competition and NRL in the future.[9]

Club career

2012

In Round 13 of the 2012 NRL season, Burgess made his NRL début for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs off the interchange bench in the Rabbitohs 23–18 loss at ANZ Stadium.[10] Burgess played 3 matches for the Rabbitohs in his début year in the NRL in the 2012 NRL season.

2013

In the 2013 NRL season Round 1 season opening match against the Sydney Roosters, Burgess scored his first NRL career try in the Rabbitohs 28–10 win at SFS.[11] After the Rabbitohs 30–24 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Barlow Park in Cairns in Round 14,[12] Burgess was stood down 3 weeks for smashing a car window with a street sign in Cairns,[13] In June 2013, a naked leaked selfie of Burgess was posted on social media.[14] In August 2013, in Round 25 against the Wests Tigers the Burgess brothers became the first set of four brothers to line up in the same Australian side since Ray, Roy, Rex and Bernard Norman played for Sydney's Annandale club in the 1910 NSWRFL season.[15] The brothers played in the Rabbitohs 32–18 win at SFS.[16] Burgess finished the Rabbitohs 2013 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 7 tries. On 1 October 2013, Burgess was named the 2013 Dally M Rookie of Year capping of a stellar year for the Rabbitohs.[17]

2014

On 5 October 2014, in the Rabbitohs 2014 NRL Grand Final against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Burgess played at prop and scored an incredible try in the Rabbitohs 30–6 victory, alongside his brothers Thomas and Sam Burgess.[18][19] Burgess finished off his solid year with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the 2014 NRL season with him playing 23 matches and scoring 3 tries.

2015

On 23 January 2015, Burgess was named in the South Sydney Rabbitohs tournament winning 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[20] On 23 February 2015, Burgess played for the Rabbitohs in the 2015 World Club Challenge match against 2014 Super League Grand Final premiers St. Helens, playing at prop and received the Man of the Match award in the Rabbitohs 39–0 win at Langtree Park.[21] In Round 26 against the Sydney Roosters, Burgess was placed on a contrary conduct charge after he threw a water bottle at Roosters forward Kane Evans as he was walking off the field to the sideline; Burgess was sitting on the interchange bench at the time of the incident in the Rabbitohs 30–0 loss at Sydney Football Stadium.[22] Later on 10 September 2015, Burgess was unsuccessful in his downgrade bid at the NRL Judiciary and received a 2 match suspension.[23] The Rabbitohs later bowed out the Finals race after getting beaten 28–12 by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Week 1 of the 2015 NRL Finals series.[24] Burgess finished the 2015 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 1 try for the Rabbitohs.

2016

Burgess finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 17 matches for the Rabbitohs.

2017

In March 2017, days before the Rabbitohs season opening match against the Wests Tigers, Burgess was dropped from the team and was sent to play for North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup after he failed to impress coach Michael Maguire in the pre-season trial matches and was outshone by the likes of youngster Zane Musgrove to the starting front-row position. Maguire gave Burgess a blunt ultimatum "Fire up or flounder in reserve grade". Maguire also commenting, "It's about performance in this club and he knows the areas that he needs to improve on. "Someone like David Tyrell and Zane Musgrove have excelled in these earlier games. Each week we'll look at who we need to carry and this week we've gone with those two boys."[25] In Round 3, Burgess was sent to the sin bin and later suspended for three matches after elbowing Newcastle player Mitch Barnett in the face during South Sydney's 24-18 victory.[26] In Round 8 against the Brisbane Broncos, Burgess was put on report for a shoulder charge on Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford during the Rabbitohs 25–24 loss at ANZ Stadium.[27] After facing the NRL judiciary, Burgess copped a four-match suspension which eventually rubbed him out to play for England in their test match against Samoa.[28][29] In Round 15 against the Gold Coast Titans, Burgess played his 100th NRL career match in the Rabbitohs 36–20 win at ANZ Stadium.[30] Burgess finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches for the Rabbitohs.

On 6 December 2017, Burgess signed an extension contract with Souths keeping him at the club until the end of 2019.[31]

2018

Burgess enjoyed a return to form in 2018 with South Sydney finishing 3rd on the table at the end of the regular season. Burgess made 27 appearances for Souths as the club made it all the way to the preliminary final before being defeated 12-4 by eventual premiers Eastern Suburbs.[32][33]

2019

Burgess made his first start for Souths in round 4 of the 2019 NRL season against Manly-Warringah which ended in a 13-12 loss. Burgess then played in the next seven games for South Sydney which were all victories and had the club sitting on top of the table after 11 rounds. In round 14 against Wests Tigers, Burgess was placed on report after allegedly attempting to gouge the eyes of Wests player Robbie Farah. Souths would go on to lose the game 14-9 at the new Western Sydney Stadium. After the match, the incident was referred immediately to the match review committee. On the 2nd of July 2019, Burgess was found guilty of the eye gouge on Farah and received a nine match ban from the NRL judiciary. This was the longest such ban imposed for an eye gouge incident in NRL history, partially due to the fact that in the previous year's season, Burgess was guilty of another eye gouging offence.[34]

On 29 July, Burgess signed a three-year deal with the Wigan Warriors on a three-year deal from the Super League XXV season.[35][36]

In the qualifying final against arch rivals the Sydney Roosters, Burgess made his return from a nine match suspension as Souths were defeated 30-6 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[37]

Further into 2019, Burgess made his acting debut in the Australian/New Zealand crime thriller Locusts (film) playing a bouncer named Ivan.[38]

2020

Burgess made his debut for Wigan against Warrington in the opening round of the Super League XXV season. During the match, Burgess was flattened by Warrington player Ben Murdoch-Masila after he attempted to tackle the player on his way to the try line. Wigan would go on to win the match 16-10.[39][40]

International career

In October 2012, Burgess also played for the England Knights team.

George was selected in England's 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad. Burgess featured in the 15–14 friendly loss to Italy. In England's first pool match against Australia, Burgess scored his first international try for England, playing at prop in the 28–20 loss at Millennium Stadium.[41] In the Semi-final match against New Zealand, Burgess late high tackle on Sonny Bill Williams resulted in a penalty that gave New Zealand the field position to steal a late 20–18 victory in the last minute of the game at Wembley Stadium.[42] Burgess received the Rugby League International Federation's Rookie of the Year award for 2013.[43] Burgess played in 5 matches and scored 1 try (4p) in the tournament.

On 6 October 2014, Burgess was selected in the England national rugby league team Final 24-man squad for the Four Nations series.[44] Burgess played in 3 matches in the tournament.

On 10 October 2016, Burgess was selected in the England 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations.[45] Burgess played in all 3 matches off the interchange bench of the tournament.

Burgess was not selected in The England squad for the 2017 rugby league world cup held in Australia although his brothers Sam Burgess and Thomas Burgess were selected.[46]

In 2018 he was selected for England against France at the Leigh Sports Village.[47]

On 6 November 2018, Burgess was suspended for four matches after being found guilty of eye gouging Dallin Watene-Zelezniak during England's 20-14 victory over New Zealand. The suspension meant that Burgess would miss the start of the 2019 NRL season.[48]

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References
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  2. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/off-field-drama-has-george-burgess-ready-to-rip-in-after-eye-gouging-ban-20190405-p51b7b.html
  3. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. Irvine, Christopher (26 October 2007). "Sam Burgess inspired by memory of late father". The Times. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  7. "We're for Sydney". Daily Telegraph. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  8. "Bulls snap up Burgess twins". Halifax Evening Courier. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  9. George Burgess signs for Rabbitohs, NRL Archived 1 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  10. "Dogs snatch thriller over Bunnies". 2 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  11. "Bunnies give SBW tough welcome back". 7 March 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  13. Sport, Telegraph (18 June 2013). "England forward George Burgess apologises after being arrested and charged with wilful damage". Retrieved 15 June 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  14. "We're for Sydney". Daily Telegraph. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  15. "Rugby league history as FOUR English brothers star for Russell Crowe's side". Mirror. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  22. Carayannis, Michael (7 September 2015). "South Sydney Rabbitohs George Burgess set to be banned after bottle throwing charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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  24. "Sharks end Rabbitohs' title defence". 13 September 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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  29. "Dailytelegraph.com.au - Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  30. "Subscribe to The Australian - Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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  32. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/20/george-burgess-battling-on-with-10-per-cent-breathing-capacity/
  33. http://nothingbutleague.com/2018/10/16/2018-season-review-south-sydney-rabbitohs/
  34. "Souths defend George Burgess's reputation after nine-game NRL ban for eye gouge". The Guardian.
  35. "Wigan Warriors sign South Sydney Rabbitohs forward". BBC Sport. 28 July 2019.
  36. "George Burgess signs with Wigan". NRL.
  37. "Roosters burst out of blocks to blow away Rabbitohs in NRL finals opener". The Guardian.
  38. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6067806/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t17
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  47. "Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France". Guardian. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  48. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15314/11546607/england-forward-george-burgess-given-four-match-ban-for-eye-gouging
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