‘Insulting and disgusting’: Souths’ slammed over reason for Sam Burgess exit
South Sydney’s has been savaged after the club’s reason for moving Sam Burgess on didn’t appear to pass the smell test.
South Sydney’s reasons behind the immediate departure of former assistant coach Sam Burgess has been labelled “smoke and mirrors” with the final moments of the club great since revealed
According to a Rabbitohs statement, Burgess walked out of his position to focus on his upcoming job at Warrington and the birth of his child, however Fox League’s James Hooper says it’s all “smoke and mirrors” with the real reason being laid bare on NRL 360.
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“Make no mistake, there’s been a major fallout between Sam Burgess and Jason Demetriou. It’s been brewing in the background over the past couple of months,” Hooper said.
“What happened today was that all of South Sydney’s club management and also all of the players were called into an emergency meeting first thing this morning at 7am and by 8am, Sammy Burgess was out the door. They hadn’t been able to resolve their differences.
“Russell Crowe got on the phone at one point and ended up hanging up on Sam Burgess. They weren’t able to find middle ground so as a result, Sam departs the club.”
Both Burgess and John Morris were in the firing line on Wednesday morning, however according to The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis, only Morris wished to “fall into line” at Souths.
“John Morris remains at Souths until the end of this year before going to the Tigers. The question was put to them - can you two fall in line? Sam Burgess said no, John Morris said yes and he remains,” Carayannis said.
Souths have been a club under fire over the past few days. The play and effort of Latrell Mitchell have been called out after a horror performance against the Knights on Sunday.
The differing standards Demetriou has of Mitchell and Cody Walker compared to other players has caused friction in the side, especially with Burgess as Hooper explained.
“The way it’s been explained to me is that Sam went to Jason Demetriou and aired the issues that he had around the playing group and the standards and he aired those quite openly to Demetriou and the other coaches,” Hooper said.
“Since Latrell Mitchell has returned from injury, there are a couple of things that Sam has spotted at training and in games that he wanted to call out.”
Carayannis added: “I don’t think Sunday was the breaking point of the relationship. This has been bubbling on in the background for the last couple of months.
“I don’t think all the travel Souths have done has helped them, cause they’ve been living in each other’s pockets for the last few months and that exposes cracks, particularly when you are losing.”
Carayannis also referenced the player-led standards or lack thereof that has frustrated Burgess during the Bunnies form slump.
“Are the standards good enough, and that comes back to what Sam Burgess’ angst has been,” Carayannis said.
“Are there enough players buying into what should be happening at South Sydney and that’s what stems from all the frustrations that Sam has developed over the last couple of months.
“He doesn’t believe the senior players are doing enough to drive the standards to a level that is high enough to win a premiership.”
NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta asked Hooper whether the comments from Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly on Wednesday for why Burgess walked out on the club were genuine reasons.
“Smoke and mirrors Braith, it’s a complete fairytale. Yes it is true that Sam has a young family which is about to get one more member and he is also taking on the head coaching position at Warrington,” Hooper said.
“When you strip it all back, this started a couple of months ago and Sam noticed some things around the Bunnies’ training standards, around their discipline in games, certainly around their defensive structures... He called all that out.
“Since it’s made its way into the media over the last 48 hours, that’s what has blown it all up and brought it to a head.
“I don’t think Jason Demetriou would have been unhappy to see the back of Sam Burgess.”
Anasta was curious to know if Burgess’ relationship with any of the players had deteriorated in addition to Demetriou.
“This is what I’m interested in. To me the players I speak too, he hasn’t ruffled feathers with, so he has he ruffled feathers with?” Anasta asked.
Hooper responded: “I would suggest given the reports, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker wouldn’t have been too happy with the suggestions that Sam believed they ran the club, the standards had slipped and everyone had taken shortcuts.
Even after signing on to coach Warrington in the Super League from 2024, there was a belief that Burgess could return after a stint in the UK and coach in the NRL at Souths.
Most would rule out that possibility after the events of today, but Hooper thinks it certainly still could happen.
“I don’t think this is the last we’re going to see of Sam Burgess in the NRL, he’s going to be back,” Hooper said.
“I have no question if things go pear shaped at South Sydney, as they have this season, I think the next head coach at the Rabbitohs will be Sam Burgess and it could be as early as 2025 if things don’t go according to script.”
Souths have lost four of their past 12 matches, and have slipped to eighth spot on the ladder. They will need to beat arch-rivals the Roosters in the last round to play finals footy.
In a season full of surprises and upsets, the Rabbitohs missing the eight would be the biggest of them all, with Hooper likening it to the horrific collapse of the Broncos last season to miss the finals.
“This is a more spectacular collapse than whem the Broncos missed the eight last year. They were on top of the competition after Round 11,” Hooper opined.
“And now Sam Burgess, who is out and out red and green royalty and only bought in as an assistant in August last year, is out the door.”
Former rugby league great Ben Elias was incredulous with what occured at the Rabbitohs, believing Burgess has a right to feel “insulted”.
“Obviously what’s happened, with two games to go, to be asked to leave the place is disgusting, insulting and terrible. There’s no two ways about it,” Elias said.
“He expects the highest standards from all of his players and those standards haven’t been met.”
Originally published as ‘Insulting and disgusting’: Souths’ slammed over reason for Sam Burgess exit
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