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South Sydney prop George Burgess facing long suspension for gouge on Robbie Farah

The NRL match review committee has sent George Burgess straight to the judiciary for his eye-gouge on Robbie Farah. The South Sydney prop could cop a ban that blows out to double figures. WATCH THE FOOTAGE

Phil RothfieldPhil Rothfield
@BuzzRothfield
2 min read
June 28, 2019 - 1:55PM
George Burgess is in trouble again after this apparent eye-gouge on Robbie Farah. It follows his suspension for a similar offence against Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
George Burgess is in trouble again after this apparent eye-gouge on Robbie Farah. It follows his suspension for a similar offence against Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

South Sydney front-rower George Burgess is facing one of the longest NRL suspensions in years after his eye-gouging charge was sent straight to the judiciary.

The match review committee met this morning and found the incident was too serious for a grading.

Burgess gouged veteran Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah in the match at Bankwest Stadium last night.

The Souths prop missed the opening three rounds of the competition this year because of a four-week gouging suspension in a Test match against New Zealand last year.

Raiders forward Hudson Young was banned for five matches earlier this season for gouging.

Burgess could be facing at least double that penalty considering his priors.

In the early stages of Thursday’s match Farah was pulled down just short of the tryline and Burgess pressed down on his face around the eye area.

Burgess could be in trouble.
Burgess could be in trouble.

He was put on report by referee Adam Gee.

North Queensland’s Josh McGuire has also faced the judiciary on gouging charges this year.

McGuire escaped suspension, although he did have to pay a $3350 fine.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett did his best to hose down the incident but admitted Burgess put himself in a bad position.

Burgess is facing a lengthy suspension. Picture by Phil Hillyard.
Burgess is facing a lengthy suspension. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

“Obviously there was a hand on the face there,” Bennett conceded.

“I can’t definitely say it was an eye gouge or what it was.”

“There was just no need to put himself in that position.

“I’m not condemning him for it in the sense I don’t know whether his fingers actually made contact with the eye or not.

“But the point is it was just totally unwarranted.”

South Sydney lost the match 14-9 and Burgess suffered a hip injury later in the game.

League legends Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston called for a lengthy suspension to stamp out the practice.

“Back in the wild west days you eyer gouge someone you’d get 18 months for it,” said Johns.

“If they’re going to be consistent he’ll get four weeks.”

Burgess was found guilty of a gouge in a Test match last season.
Burgess was found guilty of a gouge in a Test match last season.

Thurston called the move “a low act” and said harsher measures had to be taken.

“Imagine if he scratches his eye, he’d lose half his eyesight,” said Thurston.

“If they’re going to deter anyone from doing it they need to throw the book at him.”

Burgess has yet to comment on the gouge, but after his similar effort on Watene-Zelezniak he claimed such play was not part of his game.

“It is not in my makeup as a rugby league player and never has been,” Burgess tweeted.

“I sincerely apologise to anyone who thinks bad of me after seeing the footage.

“I accept the punishment but I will never accept that I gouged a fellow players eye intentionally. I have too much respect for the players I play with and against.”

Originally published as South Sydney prop George Burgess facing long suspension for gouge on Robbie Farah

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/rabbitohs/south-sydney-prop-george-burgess-on-report-for-possible-gouge-on-robbie-farah/news-story/de441f1500da798b180d64a0b463303f