George Burgess dumped from Dragons Round 3 squad to face Sharks on Thursday night
While a decision over whether George Burgess will be stood down over his sexual touching without consent charge hasn’t been made, a call on his availability on Thursday night has.
NRL
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Coach Anthony Griffin has cut George Burgess from the side to take on Cronulla after the St George Illawarra forward was charged with sexual touching without consent earlier this week.
Burgess was named in the 24-man squad to take on the Sharks in Thursday night‘s local derby in Wollongong.
But that squad will be trimmed down on Wednesday night with Burgess to be left out despite the forward training with teammates earlier in the day.
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Griffin made the decision to drop Burgess from the Sharks clash because the matter was likely to ‘drag’ on. Neither the NRL or the Dragons are yet to determine if Burgess would be stood down.
“He was named at 24 until we got more information. We haven‘t got any more information as yet so we’re probably going to have to move on, because it’s going to drag on, and let the NRL sort it out,” Griffin said.
“From a football point of view, it was in the short term until we got more information about how long it will take, we left him in the squad, but it is going to take a bit longer, so he‘ll come out today and someone else will come in.”
The Dragons won’t stand down Burgess until the club has all necessary information to make a call on the prop forward’s immediate playing future.
“It all happened really quickly on Monday afternoon, again we haven‘t got any information from the NRL, whether he is going to be stood down or not stood down because it’s in that grey area as far as the stand own policy,” Griffin said.
“We just have to wait until we get the information from the NRL about what they are going to do.
“We‘re in the dark as to the information, that’s with his lawyers and the NRL. We’ll wait until we are educated as to what the actual charge and matter around it, that’s a matter for the board and CEO.”
The charge Burgess is facing carries a maximum five-year sentence and does not automatically trigger the no-fault stand down policy, which has a threshold of an 11-year sentence or greater.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo does have the power to make a discretionary decision to stand down Burgess while the matter is before the court.
It’s believed the NRL’s Integrity Unit is close to finalising it’s ruling on the game’s latest off-field incident.
Burgess was granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, April 13.
Dragons’ defiant Burgess call after sexual touching charge
- Fatima Kdouh
St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has named George Burgess to take on Cronulla after the forward was charged with sexual touching without consent on Monday night.
The decision to keep playing Burgess could turn into another off-field distraction for the club with the NRL yet to rule on whether the 29-year old will be banned under the game’s no-fault stand down policy.
Jack de Belin, who was banned under the policy, was found not guilty of one charge of sexual assault in May 2021 in a trial that lasted over two years. After failing to reach a verdict, the jury was discharged on another five counts.
Despite insisting the de Belin saga was not a distraction, Griffin, during his first preseason at the club in 2021, sent the former NSW forward to train with the reserve grade side until the matter was resolved.
“St George Illawarra will name George Burgess in the Dragons’ 24-man squad,” a statement said on Tuesday afternoon.
“The Dragons are yet to receive the necessary and required information pertaining to the Burgess matter and therefore cannot come to a decision on the player’s availability for Round 3.
“The NRL’s stringent team selection process requires the Dragons to select a 24-man squad on Tuesday afternoon.
“The Dragons will continue to work closely with all relevant parties, including the NRL integrity unit and police, to determine the next steps surrounding this matter.”
On Tuesday, Dragons utility Moses Mbye confident the latest incident won’t have an impact on on-field results for the Red V.
“I think it’s unfortunate, it’s an issue that is beyond us,” Mbye told The Daily Telegraph.
“We have to keep each other focused on what we want to achieve this year, which is to be in the hunt for a premiership come September.
“The issue with George is going to be in front of the courts and it’s out of our control. Unless we let it become a distraction, it won’t be.”
At this stage, the NRL’s Integrity Unit has not interviewed Burgess over the allegations but has started working with NSW Police in relation to the matter.
Burgess was charged with sexual touching without consent on Monday night after a woman claimed she was inappropriately touched by the footballer.
The charge Burgess is facing carries a maximum five-year sentence and does not automatically trigger the no-fault stand down policy, which has a threshold of an 11-year sentence or greater.
But NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said discretionary powers that would ban Burgess from taking the field could be ‘invoked’ in the next two days.
“In terms of the no-fault stand down policy will be invoked that will be something reviewed expeditiously and a decision made in the next or two depending on how long it takes to get all the information,” Abdo said at the NRL’s launch of multicultural round.
After a stint in the UK Super League, Burgess made a return to the NRL after overcoming a serious hip injury to play his 150th game last weekend against the Penrith Panthers.
Abdo refused to weigh in on the club’s decision to name Burgess for Thursday night’s local derby.
“We haven’t made a decision on what the action will take but until we do that, that’s a matter for the Dragons and the player to decide,” Abdo said.
“I’m not sure if they will put him up, that’s a matter for them. Once we have reviewed all the facts, we’ll make a decision on whether or not we will invoke the no-fault stand down policy.”
It’s believed the incident occured at a South Sydney residence earlier this month. Police have not released any further details.
Abdo was ‘disappointed’ the NRL is now facing another off-field incident involving an allegation against a player levelled by a female.
“Any time there is a negative headline, or an allegation of indiscretion it’s never a good day or time for us. We have to look at the facts and decide what we’ll do next. As I said earlier it is disappointing. However, this has only just happened,” Abdo said.
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