Rabbitohs stars expect Broncos to target Sam Burgess
THE Roosters frustrated Sam Burgess into one of his worst performances all season, and now he comes up against the most notorious niggler in the NRL.
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SOUTH Sydney forward Sam Burgess’ frustration against the Roosters last weekend was palpable.
It was obvious coach Trent Robinson wanted his men to target Burgess and they were successful in blunting his affect in Friday night’s clash.
In an uncharacteristic performance, the Englishman made five errors, missed five tackles and conceded a penalty.
Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds wasn’t surprised at the extra attention Burgess received and he’s expecting much the same from Brisbane tonight.
Maybe even more thanks to Broncos forward Josh McGuire, who is notorious for his niggle tactics and cheap shots.
“I think every team tries to get under Sam’s skin,” he said.
“He’s a talented player and as you would, you would try to stick it to him.
“But I don’t know any other competitor in the game like him.
“He plays every game in a way that he leaves nothing out there. He goes out there to do a job.
“We love having in the side, along with his aggression.”
Bunnies prop forward George Burgess said shutting down his older brother was a smart strategy.
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If Sam isn’t at his blockbusting best then that has a ripple effect on the rest of the side.
“Teams are always going to target the main players and Sam is one of our main ball players as well, so it is probably a good game plan to get under Sammy’s skin,” he said.
While Reynolds conceded Burgess’s performance was poor by his standards, he said the lock was primed to bounce back in front of a big crowd at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
“Sam had a mixed bag of a game,’’ he said. “You know he had plenty of work and got through a mountain of tackles and it was disappointing he spilt the ball a couple of times, but he was disappointed with his own performance. But I’m sure he’ll turn it around.”
Much of the Rabbitohs’ success relies on their big men’s ability to generate go-forward, a part of their game the Chooks were able to defuse.
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Burgess knows the Broncos will run out on to Suncorp Stadium intending to use the same blueprint.
“They have a lot of strike in the middle and they have a strong bench,” he said. “They’re forwards have been going great, especially in the last few weeks.
“They’ve been putting on some plays in the middle. I think their front-rowers have scored four tries between them. There’s a bit of work to do to stop them boys. Our whole forward pack is going to have to do a really good job to contain them.”
Coach Anthony Seibold has been forced to name a new-look backline again after winger Alex Johnston suffered a hamstring injury, and with superstar fullback Greg Inglis’s thumb injury keeping him sidelined for at least another week.
Centre Dane Gagai has been named to fill in at the back, and Seibold is also blooding Kiwi rookie Mawene Hiroti, an outside back, off the bench.