Tom burgess anyone?

Def no to Dave Tyrell and Jason ClarkSouth Sydney Rabbitohs attempting to offload prop Tom BurgessSea Eagles stay in huntSouth Sydney are shopping Tom Burgess to rival clubs in an attempt to offload the English prop as part of a radical overhaul of their underperforming roster.The Rabbitohs are almost certainly out of the finals race after their seventh consecutive loss, prompting a review of their squad. General manager of football Shane Richardson was concerned about their recruitment and retention during his stint at the NRL and is looking to put the broom through the playing ranks.AdvertisementBurgess, one of the highest-paid players at the club, is viewed as a priority despite the fact he is contracted until the end of 2018.It is understood he is on a deal worth about $500,000 a season, with Souths prepared to pay some of his freight in order to get him off the books. Several English and Australian clubs have been sounded out about taking him in 2017.Brothers in arms: Tom Burgess (left), who is being shopped around by Souths, is tackled at training by brother Sam.Brothers in arms: Tom Burgess (left), who is being shopped around by Souths, is tackled at training by brother Sam. Photo: Getty ImagesBurgess, who will miss Sunday's clash against Canberra due to a one-match ban for a shoulder charge, is entitled to see out the remainder of his contract. However, Souths officials hope he will agree to a fresh start after struggling to recapture the form that made him one of the NRL's most fearsome front-rowers.The Rabbitohs managed to shift older brother Luke, who was also contracted at the time, to Manly in 2015 after he was arrested during the infamous high-altitude training camp in Arizona. David Tyrrell and Jason Clark are also free to leave if they can find homes elsewhere.There is a feeling the three Burgess brothers at the club – Tom, twin George and dual international Sam – are sucking up too much of the salary cap.In the first part of a video series filmed for members, Richardson conceded "time will tell" if the club paid too much to bring Sam back from rugby union.Asked why some players were moved on while still contracted, Richardson said: "Sometimes we want to let them out of their contracts early."We've got a process this year of making sure players at the club want to be here, are committed to the Rabbitohs and want to be part of what we're doing here at South Sydney. So sometimes you'll do that, sometimes it's for financial reasons from a cap point of view, it allows us to build up a bit of a war chest, which is what that has allowed to do."We were pretty chock-a-block with our cap when we arrived at the start of the year, we've got a bit more flexibility now. I've always worked on the principle that if you build up that war chest, you're in the marketplace at the right time at the end of the season when a lot of clubs are over their cap and we're not."

"The PNG national squad always does OK, plus the grassroots are already established. Plus, the entire country loves the game. I'd be more optimistic of PNG fielding a compettiive side over Perth. "

"Need way more than that, majority of the players signed would be their depth. Even that is rubbish. As Johnny mentioned too, juniors will be hard to come by.
Look at their last two signings. Sorensen and Talakai. Sorensen is a fine signing for…"

Replies

Trent July 28, 2016 at 8:37am

Yes tommy wouldn't be a bad pick up
Ricky July 28, 2016 at 8:55am

The only forward with any ability at Souths is Sam Burgess and we all know he's never going to leave.

Pass, pass and pass once more on any other forward at Souths.
Parramatters July 28, 2016 at 10:44am

He reminds me of the rock monster in the move the never ending story..
Huge week and clumsy hands...
Mathew Clarke July 28, 2016 at 10:52am

For the right price, yes. Still relatively young and a big bopper.
slip July 28, 2016 at 11:19am

Why buy a player that somebody is wanting to offload? Sure, all players can contribute something, but buying somebody else's lack of interest is a concern.
- Mathew Clarke > slip July 28, 2016 at 11:50am
  
  They are shedding him due to salary cap pressure, not because he can't play. For the right price he is definitely someone we could use at our club. It's funny how much better players can play when they are on a winning team, it's infectious. If some of the other blogs are true about our available funds for next year, we are likely to have a real crack at a premiership over the next few seasons. If we retain the right players and purchase ones that will complement what we have. I'm cautiously excited about next season.
Kramerica July 28, 2016 at 11:58am

"...Shane Richardson was concerned about thier recruitment and retention during his stint at the NRL...."

LOL, so THAT"S what fatboy was doing at the NRL for a year - worrying about Souths - because he certainly did f**K all else. Platinum league anyone? Definitely the NRL's worst appointment ever.

If it wasn't for Surgess and Gurgess no one would ever have heard of Turgess.

His ability is nowhere near that of his brothers - nowhere - his price tag is right up there though - even at 250k he's way over priced for a bloke that would struggle against the props we already have, I reckon.

Can't wait to see Vave in the B&G after an off season under BA :)
- Tragiceel > Kramerica July 28, 2016 at 12:11pm
  
  Agree Kram, very overrated and not worth the money. Paul Vaughan might be worth a shot though.
Kramerica July 28, 2016 at 1:16pm

Agree Tragic - Vaughan is the type of bloke who could really thrive at our club I reckon - I would love it if we had a red hot go at getting him.

Best thing about him is the way he wears his shorts high on his hips - like Peter "too tough" Tunks back in the day - it reminds me of a simpler time :)
Hugo July 28, 2016 at 3:07pm

No. On a massive contract at souffs and is not worth it.

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