Greg Inglis says Sam Burgess regrets David Klemmer punch incident

AFTER Sam Burgess’ referee outrage and brain snap punch dominated fallout from England’s loss to the Kangaroos, Souths teammate Greg Inglis weighs in.

AS Sam Thaiday prepares to have an operation to repair a fractured eye socket, it was another Sam which Greg Inglis defended.

Thaiday will be operated in London on today after colliding heads with James Graham in Australia’s Four Nations victory.

He joined the team’s celebrations after the game, but the injury will obviously rule him out of the final against New Zealand in Liverpool on Monday.

He is expected to fly back with the rest of the squad next week.

Sam Thaiday will undergo surgery to repair a fractured eye socket.

Shannon Boyd is Thaiday’s likely replacement on the interchange bench, allowing Tyson Frizell to return to his favoured edge role after playing the bulk of the match against England in the middle of the field.

It is Australia’s second tournament-ending injury after Josh Mansour left the tour with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

While Thaiday nurses his wounds, it was Sam Burgess’ referee outrage and his brain snap punch which dominated the fallout from the Kangaroos victory.

Burgess lashed out and hit Australian firebrand David Klemmer late in the game.

Sam Burgess hit David Klemmer during England’s Four Nations clash with the Kangaroos.

Unlike NRL rules, there is not an automatic sin-binning for punches in this tournament.

Inglis said Burgess had texted him regret regarding the incident and did not want to become the poster boy for bringing fighting back into the game.

“Sam said he was disappointed in himself because he wants to be a role model for kids,” Inglis said.
“Kids are growing up watching us and we want to be good role models. (Being a poster boy is) one thing he doesn’t want to be. He plays it hard, aggressive. He was disappointed.”

Inglis said he had recovered from a head knock which ended his match prematurely.

Originally published as Greg Inglis says Sam Burgess regrets David Klemmer punch incident