NRL 2022: Twins Tom and George Burgess to clash for the first time in Charity Shield

Tom Burgess admits it will be “weird” playing against his twin brother for the first time in the Charity Shield but George insists he won’t be avoiding his sibling in the heat of battle.

George Burgess won’t hold back against his twin brother Tom in the Charity Shield. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Just weeks after having his twin brother stand by his side at his wedding, an apprehensive Tom Burgess is not looking forward to lining up against George when they clash in the Charity Shield on Saturday night.

The pair will square off for the first time in any competitive sport having been lifelong teammates.

Tom was on hand with fellow brothers Luke and Sam to watch George’s return to the NRL with St George Illawarra last Sunday after George was his best man at Tom’s wedding last month.

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This week he gets a first-hand look at George when the Rabbitohs take on St George Illawarra in Mudgee.

“It’s going to be hard,” Tom said. “It’s not normal to go up against him. You talk about brothers playing up against each other but twins is another level. It’s going to be weird.

George and Tom Burgess will play against each other for the first in the Charity Shield this weekend.

“I’m hoping when I get across the white line it will be business as usual. We will have a joke about it.

“The game happens so quickly, I’ll get in a tackle and then I’ll realise I’m tackling my brother. I’ll stay away from his hip knowing the circumstances of him coming back. I know how much work he has done. The last thing I want for him is to get hurt.

“We have been competing all our lives. We’ve been compared to each other. We are close and best mates. We didn’t like the time apart. We got on with it but we do prefer being together. I’m happy he is back in Australia.

“My dad was strict with us. We never had any fistfights. We’ve had a few wrestles here and there. We always used to be teammates even when we were growing up.

“The older boys would gang up on us. We’d work together and then when we were bigger than them we got our own back.”

Tom said he was “proud” of George’s return to the game after undergoing revolutionary hip surgery which saved his career.

While Tom had his reservations, George said he was looking forward to the clash. “We’re taking it pretty seriously,” George said. “I won’t be avoiding him, I’ll be looking for him.”

Tom and George Burgess played several seasons together at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Tom expects to have breakfast with George on game day and be joined by mother Julie.

The Rabbitohs prop played against Luke during his older brother’s stint at Manly but said this was different.

“It was weird playing against Luke but we had to get on with it,” Tom said.

“We had one line that it was enemies for 80 minutes but brothers for life.

“That little 80-minute window, when we are on opposing teams, we have to do anything we can to get the win.

“We will get a coffee on game day and be relaxed. We will make a little deal and I’ll let him through and he will let me through … only joking.”