George Burgess banned for nine games for eye gouge on Robbie Farah

South Sydney general manager Shane Richardson was fuming after George Burgess copped a monster ban for his eye-gouging offence, launching a bizarre defence of his star which was completely out of touch.

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It was a dog act by a banned British Bulldog.

South Sydney’s English prop George Burgess was sensationally rubbed out of the NRL for eye gouging after an iron-fisted NRL judiciary imposed a nine game suspension.

By George will now be Bye George.

The three-member panel comprising former NRL players Dallas Johnson, Bob Lindner and Mal Cochrane deliberated for 29 minutes before possibly ending Burgess’ controversial career in Australia.

During the hearing, Burgess was close to tears and, at times, lost for words. He claimed to be “shocked, devastating, remorseful, disgraceful, ashamed, upset and angry” at his behaviour.

Burgess, still just 27, pleaded guilty to eye gouging Wests Tigers star Robbie Farah at Bankwest Stadium last Thursday night.

“I accept responsibility I had my hand near his eye and head,” Burgess said during the hearing.

“I won’t accept that I deliberately went out to do that. I’m not that type of person. Robbie was upset and rightly so, I’d be the same.

“I’ve been pretty upset. My career is in the balance. What I’ve done looks pretty disgraceful. I’m ashamed really. Going through the stress of this will definitely change the way I play.

Burgess has been found guilty. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

George Burgess’s rap sheet.

“My hands ended up in a dodgy place. I am apologetic and remorseful. I am angry at myself for the situation. It’s not something I would think about doing again, it’s not part of my game.”

The panel also watched replays of Burgess’ eye-gouging New Zealand skipper Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in a Test match last November.

He claimed to have learned from that four-game suspension in England but that was shot down by NRL counsel, Peter McGrath. Asked had a pattern of eye gouging emerged, Burgess was forced to admit: “I can accept that.”

Burgess admitted contact with Farah’s eyes but claimed he was obscured by Souths teammate Damien Cook, who was also in the tackle. He said he only knew of the drama when watching a replay on the big screen.

The incident. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I was on autopilot. I realised I got his face and eyes. I was shocked really. Everything was going 100 miles an hour, I swear on my kid’s lives I didn’t know I had my hand in his eye. I saw the footage on the big screen and knew I’d made a big mistake,” Burgess said.

McGrath peppered Burgess with questions despite the Souths star being visibility shattered. McGrath said the game treated eye gouging “with disgust.”

“This was far more than careless,” McGrath said. “He deliberately placed his right index finger into the right eye socket of player Farah.”

Unwanted by Souths after this season and without a club for next year, Burgess may now be forced to play out his career with the English Super League. He has played 147 games for South Sydney.

Souths have nine regular-season matches remaining this season with Burgess back for the finals.

Burgess was put on report. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“This is a tragedy for George and his family. I want to say this though, George is a loving father, brother and son,” said Souths general manager, Shane Richardson.

“At South Sydney he has been nothing but an ornament to the club and I don’t think this should define what George Burgess is about.”

Before NRL judiciary chairman Robert Abood, Burgess’ barrister, James McLeod, said his client’s actions were “careless” but not “intentional or reckless.”

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett did not attend Tuesday night’s hearing.

Burgess’ official charge was dangerous contact head/neck (eye contact). He is being offered to rival clubs but will not be signed for big money.