It seems Sam is having one more season at Souths then doing one to Kick and clap. Well dissapointed with this as feel was our best player for some time. Wonder If the rfl will now bow to Marwans wishes and allow teams to spend more to protect players of his quality. I say Yes If they play for our international team but not If there some one like SBW who just seems to want earn his wedge and then do one to next highest bidder. Makes You wonder what will be thought of the other 3 burgess brothers. George is the next best and doubt Souths will Let go but either of the other two would be decent.

Very disappointed with Sam on this. He could have been a great of rugby league.

He's of course going to do well at RU but he's going to be cold waiting for the ball. What a waste!

Still find this bizarre but there is nothing the RFL can do to stop this, whether it be money or salary cap. Not even a top contract with a leading NRL club, lifestyle in Sydney with all his family and being best mates with Russell Crowe has stopped him going.



Just shows how different the 2 games are when they are talking of playing England's best prop at centre in union.

League is too easy. Everyone who leaves does it for the challenge. How about winning a SL, NRL, challenge cup, Man of Steel or RL World Cup? Sam you've actually done bugger all in your RL career but were so close to becoming one of the greats. I'm disappointed for him, but money means more to some people, and it's not as if he is on the breadline in Sydney!

On the up side. With his wages, Sam is now a viable option as an investor in the Iconic Bulls.

Its a problem and needs to be looked at urgently. Any player with ability will be a target and our sport can expect RU to pick off who they want when they want. From a players view who can blame them, they can expect more media coverage, more money, and more stability in a well organised game. They can also look forward to more international games.

The writings been on the wall for ages, and in my view will develop in to a major problem over the next few years.



I also think many RL fans have very little understanding of RU, and seem to underestimate just how the games changed for the better over the last 5 years.



Ru benefits from investment, structure and organisation RL can only dream of at the moment. Our sport bobbles along from one short term plan to another.

We have a great product and given the right leadership and planing the game will thrive.

Ru set its stall out about 10 years ago, it knew were the game needed to be and went for it.

Pop tart ,Sam was a great in our sport . Thats why they wanted him.

He won't be remembered as a great. He may have been great but hasn't played long enough or been successful enough to be linked with Hanley, Murphy, Fox etc.

It's a shame but we need to work on it.



I also think it is insulting to the other RU centres who have played all their life and just been overlooked now. That investment could have developed 500 new ones.

If I were in rugby league administration, I'd be talking that fact up in the media now and inviting the Rugby Union players to come to league and learn how to play.

If he was going now i would say there was a good chance of him making an impression at the world cup. Giving yourself 6 months to get up to speed in a completely different sport is asking alot though.



He will be back in 2 years, bored but with a pocket full of cash. It will then take him another season to remember how to tackle.

Speaks volumes about rugby union really. Sam will be on a good crack at South Sydney, there's no doubt about that but he has expressed an interest in playing for England RU and the RFU have hinted at funding the move. He could have probably signed for any premiership club and he will pretty much walk into the international side despite not having a recognised position or any proven track record in the game. Game wise it's low on skill and low on fitness but the draws of playing for England in the world cup and 6 Nations are huge. The earning potential, the massive interest in the game across Europe and let's not forget, if you play your cards right you could end up marrying a royal, despite the broken nose and cauliflower ears!

If little Sammy wants to play 'kick and clap' that's just fine ... I just wish he had done it when he was 16....





Then he wouldn't have raised the expectation of thousands of young kids who worship him as a league player... And, if he had wished, league legend.



See ya Sam... Don't come back!

Gutted that he's going but it's more because I feel let down by him than that RL is losing him.

Not surprised at all that he has gone to Union (clearly cash) - which is indeed a completely different game to ten years ago. Not saying the skills have improved because they most certainly haven't, they have got worse - the wily skills of hookers and props disappeared long ago and the ability to break the line relies a great deal on just bashing your way through. What will come easily is the increased hit that has become part of the game and I do think the back line plays much more of a role in the general play especially at international level - just look at how much O'Driscoll is involved in games. Classy centres can be just as effective as a flanker who have a great deal to do in any union game.

The strangest thing though.......why Bath? Domestically they are not going to win anything - something that you would think was high on Sams list. And to be fair, not sure that England are going to be there with the true big boys come the next world cup. Yep he will be looked after like a precious child, stay in very expensive hotels, get to play in front of vast crowds in the most fantastic stadiums, but win antyhing...I'm not too sure.