Sam Burgess stretchered off after sickening collision against Dragons at SCG

HIS mum watched on in horror but it seems her prayers were answered with news this morning that Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess has been cleared of a serious neck injury sustained yesterday in a tackle against the Dragons.

THE look on Julie Burgess’s face said it all. The rugby league community held its collective breath Sunday night, hopeful that South Sydney star Sam Burgess would be cleared of a serious neck injury after a sickening collision at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

And it appears those wishes will be granted.

Burgess was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a neck brace as St George Illawarra continued a round of upsets by beating the Rabbitohs 8-6.

Sam Burgess was stretchered from the field following a sickening collision.

Burgess was this morning cleared of serious injury, with MRI and CT scans showing no damage to the vertebrae or spinal cord.

The Rabbitohs released a statement this morning saying Burgess would continue to be monitored for any muscle injury around the neck and spine region, as well as any neurological issues arising from the incident.

He is set to be released from hospital today or tomorrow.

Greg Inglis told the Daily Telegraph he had spoken to Burgess this morning, with the Bunnies star keen to play the bulldogs on Friday.

“If you ask Sammy (about playing on Friday) he will say ‘yes’ but we have to put him through the right medical procedures with this injury, especially around the neck,” Inglis said.

It was the Dragons’ first win of the season but a win overshadowed by the concern for Burgess, who was stretchered from the ground in the 51st minute following an accidental head clash with Mike Cooper.

Burgess had taken an inside ball from Luke Keary and ducked his head as he ran into a wall of Dragons defenders.

But from the moment of impact the seriousness of the situation was obvious.

The moment of impact.

With South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe watching from the stands, Burgess’ mother, Julie, was visibly shaken as play was held up for several minutes as her son received on-field medical treatment.

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire said Burgess had shown positive signs and the scans would hopefully come back with good news.

“The doctor was pretty positive,” Maguire said.

“He obviously had a bit of tingling down through one arm and they go through all the right processes.

“From what I have been told he was pretty positive when they put him in the ambulance.”

Burgess himself took to Twitter last night to let fans know initial scans had gone well.

South Sydney captain Greg Inglis said it was difficult watching on as Burgess received on-field assistance.

“Those things you don’t want to see for any player,” Inglis said.

“When he is laying there motionless and can’t really say much it is worrying.”

Maguire added: “He had all movement so they are the first signs (to look for).

“I am no doctor but when you have an incident like that I’d imagine you are looking for all movements.

“He was in a bit of pain. He sort of got compressed there quite heavily.

“But as I have been told he is in a pretty good frame of mind so we will have to wait and see.”

Burgess’ wife, Phoebe, and injured brother Tom arrived at hospital with him on Sunday night.

Julie Burgess appears visibly distressed as son Sam is stretchered off the SCG with a neck injury.

Brother George Burgess replaced Sam when he left the field injured, and was given an assuring pat from his other brother Tom.

Cooper was also wishing his English teammate the best.

“I hope he is all right,” Cooper said.

“He came on to the ball at 100mph, as he always does. I was straight in front of him. He knocked me flying.

Sam Burgess was stretchered off the field on a medicab. Picture: Brett Costello

“To be honest with you I blacked out a little bit because he knocked me straight on my backside. As soon as I got up I saw he was on the floor so I didn’t know what was going on, to be honest.

“I got a stinger on my left shoulder.

“I didn’t know straight away. I just knew it was a big collision.

“I hope he is fine.

Sam Burgess is attended to following a sickening collision at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

“It’s part of the game, unfortunately.

“We put our bodies on the line every single week for the fans and our work.

“It’s just so unfortunate.

“I hope everything is all right and he has a speedy recovery.

“He plays the game that hard, he can pick up injuries.

“Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.”

South Sydney's Jason Clark is tackled by the Dragons at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

It was a disastrous afternoon for the Rabbitohs who also finished with two players on report for dangerous tackles, and young hooker Damien Cook left the field concussed after copping an accidental elbow.

Paul Carter will face a nervous wait to see if he is charged by the match review panel for a “third man in’’ legs tackle on Cooper, while Kirisome Auva’a was also in trouble for a crusher tackle that left Euan Aitken clutching his neck.

Despite the defeat, Maguire said he was proud of his team’s performance in such adversity with the teams scoring one try apiece in the first half.