Sam Burgess feels weight of sexting scandal

Sam Burgess’s hands trembled and tears formed as he spoke for the first time since the sexting scandal emerged.

Souths forward Sam Burgess mingles with the fans at Redfern Oval yesterday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

A grim-faced Greg Inglis walks through a 50-strong media scrum. He shakes his head in disgust. “You’d think someone has killed someone,” he says before Sam Burgess emerges from behind closed doors, turns white at the size of the gathering, which has been boosted by about 40 Rabbitohs supporters having a stickybeak at the latest NRL car crash, and slowly walks behind the microphone. His large hands are trembling.

A family day has just finished next door at Redfern Park. There’s been face-painting, the blowing of bubbles, princess-themed jumping castles, pony rides organised by a big-hearted Vietnam veteran, picnic blankets, balloons and fancy-dress. As always in Redfern, there’s been a cop car right in the middle of it. Festivities over, a replica fire engine can only leave the scene by driving past the scene of Burgess’s first press conference since the sexting scandal emerged. The driver of the fire engine grimaces. Good luck hosing this one down.

Burgess stands straight. Stares ahead. Blinks. I’m standing on his shoulder. I can see the tears in his eyes. He clears his throat, looks down the barrel of the cameras. Fire away. He cannot answer the first inquiry without a long pause. For the next 12 minutes, an emotional yet resolute Burgess is not prepared to answer the most simple and pertinent question of all. What’s the truth here? What exactly happened? He answers everything without really answering anything. He says his hands are tied by the investigation into the matter. The findings may be released as soon as today.

“Um,” is Burgess’s first word. During a 16-second attempt to compose himself, a Souths supporter shouts, “Be strong, Sam!” Another yells, “You don’t get any stronger!” He says, “I’m not going to get into any details. There’s an NRL investigation going on at the moment. I’m happy for them to get to the truth, I really am.

“While the inquiry is taking place, we’ve been told to make no comment. So I’m going to do that. I’m not speaking for myself but from the perspective of my wife and my family. It’s been a tough process to go through as a family, together. I’m fortunate that I’ve got a strong wife. A wife who loves me. A great family. Great friends. Great support around me to help me through these allegations that have been made. It’s been a tricky few days. We’re all humans, so you do feel it.”

Burgess is starting to relax. Just a little. His shoulders are less tense. His back is less rigid. The tears have been blinked away. They’ll only return when afterwards, an elderly female supporter grabs him and gives him a hug.

“I’ve had certain experiences in my life before where I’ve had some serious emotions that I’ve had to deal with and football has always been great for me in compartmentalising those feelings. I’m lucky I’ve got a great team. Great people around me. It is what it is.”

A shambles. “As soon as possible,” is when he wants the inquiry to be finalised. “Hopefully within 24 hours, 48 hours, it will be resolved.” Asked if he’s exploring his legal options, Burgess says, “Once this process is finished, I’ll speak to my lawyer then. There’s a lot of important things going on at the minute. I’ve got some serious football games in front of me. There’s a process we’re going through here. Once that’s all done and dusted then surely, yeah. I’m not angry. What hurts me the most is seeing my wife upset about what’s out there and having to deal with that. But I’m not angry. Like I said, I’m completely happy to go through the process. Be open and honest with everything and hopefully it’s resolved sooner rather than later.”

It’s understood that Burgess’s pregnant wife, Phoebe, and their one-year-old daughter Poppy have moved out of the family home because paparazzi have been camped out the front for the past five days.

“I just want to protect my family in this whole thing,” he says. “I’ve got a wife. I’ve got a daughter. My wife’s heavily pregnant, so I just want them to be safe and happy but in my current situation at home, there’s just no chance of that.”

Burgess talks up Saturday night’s sudden-clash against the Sydney Roosters, marvels at the sun being out, gets excited by the mention of a massive crowd, clearly finds comfort in an upcoming game of football. If personal dramas are an unwelcome distraction from the game, preparing for the game is a welcome distraction from the drama.

“I’m glad I’m stood here today,” he says. “I’m glad I’ve had the chance to address it and speak to you guys so you understand where I’m at. Understand that I’m not running away and hiding from what’s out there. I’m here … but I can’t talk about it, guys. You have to understand that. I’m not going to put myself in a position that will get me into any trouble.”

His missus has hinted that everything is going to be fine on the most important front, the home front, by posting an Instagram photo of them having a picnic. You can see her pregnant belly and Poppy and while Burgess isn’t in the photo, you can see the shadow of him taking the picture. Her caption reads, “Moments in the sun with our babies.”

What’s the truth? We still don’t know. For now, there’s just an understanding of the emotional duress. “My teammates have been fantastic,” Burgess says.

“Two of my brothers are in the team, which is great. I’ve got a beautiful wife and daughter. My mum. My mother and father in-law are fantastic. I’ve got plenty of support around me.”