What’s the Buzz: Sam Burgess paid $15,000 a week by South Sydney to do nothing

Retired enforcer Sam Burgess is still earning good money as the Rabbitohs await the outcome of a NSW Police investigation into their former star.

Retired South Sydney star Sam Burgess. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Ten months after he was temporarily stood down over allegations of drug use and domestic violence, South Sydney Rabbitohs are still paying retired champion Sam Burgess more than $15,000 a week to do nothing.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the Rabbitohs are waiting on the outcome of a NSW Police investigation into the allegations raised in The Australian newspaper last October after his bitter split from ex-wife Phoebe Hooke.

The Organised Crime Squad established Strike Force Irrabella to investigate the allegations but 10 months later, a spokesman said on Friday: “The investigation is ongoing.”

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Burgess had denied the allegations and has not been charged.

Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs continue to pay Burgess his $800,000-a-year contract after he was medically-retired from the NRL in 2019. The contract runs until the end of the 2023.

Sam Burgess was medically-retired from the NRL in 2019. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

On top of his Souths salary, the old rugby league enforcer was paid an estimated $300,000 to appear on Channel 7’s SAS Australia series that starts next month.

Burgess declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph on Friday.

In March, the premiership-winning forward had a conviction for intimidation against former father-in-law Mitchell Hooke overturned by a NSW appeals court.

Those closest to Burgess say he is in a good head space despite frustrations over the sluggishness of the NSW Police investigation.

Burgess emerged from a lengthy stint this year in a Gold Coast rehab clinic to treat gambling, drug and alcohol issues to begin filming for the Channel 7 show.

He will also need a clearance from the NRL integrity unit before he can return to the Rabbitohs on the coaching staff as part of his huge salary.

An NRL spokesman said: “The NRL integrity unit is very respectful of NSW Police Strike Force Irrabella and will await the conclusion of the strike force’s work before the integrity unit finalises its own investigation.”