South Sydney apologise to NRL judiciary for Sam Burgess blow-up
Wayne Bennett might have given Sam Burgess’ opinions his backing but the Rabbitohs hierarchy weren’t so impressed by the South Sydney skipper’s “kangaroo court” comments.
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South Sydney Rabbitohs have apologised to Supreme Court judge Geoff Bellew over their skipper Sam Burgess’ attack on the NRL judiciary.
Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson rang Bellew on Thursday to apologise on behalf of the club.
No doubt Souths chairman Nick Pappas, a lawyer, would have encouraged the apology knowing the esteem Bellew is held in among Sydney’s legal heavyweights.
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It was the first sign Burgess did not have the full support of the Rabbitohs management, although coach Wayne Bennett had backed his skipper’s comments.
Burgess labelled the judiciary a kangaroo court in a spray that has left him facing a breach notice and a hefty fine under the NRL’s player code of conduct rules.
When contacted, Richardson declined to go into detail of their conversation.
“Geoff and I go a long way back,” he said. “He actually used to defend our players at the judiciary.
“I just rang him as a mate. I don’t want to go into what was a private conversation.
“He’s an outstanding man who has climbed to the top of his profession because he’s so good at what he does.”
The Rabbitohs forward will meet NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg this week to discuss a potential breach notice over his comments.