Do you not think the 'Burgess' surname will be a noose around his neck? It's a lot of pressure.

He,s backing himself to sucked and as a bunnies fan I hope he does, Matt king next to sign for souths??

Oh I see, move the goalposts. Not what you insinuated in that he'd be lucky to play in reserve grade over here. But we'll let that go through to the keeper.



Nothing lucky about their feeder team arrangement, would be better if all NRL sides had their own reserves again like they used to. Well, what do you think happens when there are more than two props??? The bench. Like in first grade. Norths players will be rested or go to A grade. Or indeed, players can play elsewhere, as an example, I notice J Lo, has played for your team. At Norths, he often played second row. Souths will let Norths know where they want their players to play.

Just dug this out from the first game Norths had as Souths reserve grade side, Sun 25 Mar 2007 v Parra. Looks handy don't it

Isaac Gordon
Troy Boston
Germaine Paulson
Yilleen Gordon
Fetuli Talanoa
Beau Champion
Clark Webb
Manase Manuakafoa
Isaac Luke
Jaiman Lowe
Joe Gulavao
Shannan McPherson
Ben Rogers
Jardine Bobongie
Conrad Ta'akimoeaki
Ryan Verlinden
Chris Dears

Champion and Luke aside very much a reserve grade team if ever I've seen one.

Interesing as this was 4 years ago Fair enough. Look how many play regular first grade. Not a bad reserve grade side though eh?



I recall Bully being on the bench for us as Stuart Webb was above him in the pecking order at hooker for Souths. Now look at him. Champ was playing reserve grade for Crounlla over the weekend.


What about the team that played in the Grand Final in 07? Is that more to your liking?

David Peachey
Reece Simmonds
Germaine Paulson
Yileen Gordon
Troy Boston
Beau Champion
Joe Williams
Scott Geddes
Daniel Irvine
Mike Greenfield
Shannon McPherson
Eddy Pettybourne
Ben Lowe
Jadrine Bobongie
Ryan Verlinden
Joe Falemaka
Eddie Paea

Hardly. That's arguably a worse side than the one above without Luke in it. It might be a good reserve grade side but it's still a reserve grade side. Four years on there's only a couple who command a first grade spot. I'd say only Champion, Geddes, Pettybourne, McPherson and Lowe are now regular first graders and even then they're not exactly standouts and would only play first grade at certain clubs.

No, Luke will just go about his business as usual. His game will suit the NRL and he never gives anything but 100%. I think most Souffs fans realise he isnt his brother but I know that I wish he hadn't left Leeds as he's been our top performing prop this season before his injury.

Fully agree

I think he will go well, seems hungry enough for it.

What have Souths got to lose?
They are perennial Losers that have big Rusty trying to buy anyone on the market for above the odds.
They are bumping along at 11th with 6 wins from 14 games.
They have signed supposedly the best Forward in the World Sam Burgess


The Best Centre in the World Greg Inglis


The Biggest and best Oz forward coming through Dave Taylor
Now the best player signed by SL in recent times Matt King



Add them to the rest....

Ex Test hitman Michael Crocker getting his last big cheque
Issac Luke the most likely Kiwi Test player to turn a game
Nathan Merritt once a fringe Rep player with a solid Try record.
Add Roy Asotasi ex Kiwi Test regular.
Up and comers Sandow and never really developed Sutton

None of the above would come cheap, maybe its time for Luke to have a run for a Carton of Beer for a win?

They will because 'Sicknote Luke' doesnt have quite the same ring to it as 'Sicknote Sam'

Went OK today I thought. Not bad to say he's just got off the plane anyway. Got decent game time off the bench and made 4 tackles in a row in his first set on the field.

[uStats:[/u

Minutes - 43
Hit ups - 11
Metres - 84
Tackle Brks - 1
Tackles - 28
Penalties - 2

I was at the game as a pommy sharks fan watched Lukes debut with interest... his first five of six hit ups he was monstered by the Sharks players... looked like a rag doll ... to his credit he kept at it tried hard without ever looking anything out of the ordinary (there were 10 or 12 forwards in the toyta cup game before the main feature who could have done just as well... and some considerably better)...

I dont remember him breaking a tackle at all...

I like Luke as a plyer... but he does not have the physically imposing physique of his brothers nor does he possess great hands... I cant see him troubling a full stregnth Bunnies line-up.

That's a bit of a myth, he's actually bigger than sam - same height and wider. He may not be an eye catching forward like sam but as those stats suggest he gets through some work.

as a myth its a bloody good one...

I watched them stood together on the pitch at Cronulla and Sam even in civvies... looked considerably bigger than Luke...

but I shall bow to your obvious greater knowledge.

Sams a touch bigger, little bit chunkier, theres not much in it though. They're pretty much the same size

Sam is taller and probably bigger overall after being in the NRL with the weights work he will have been put through.

I'm not sure that they've even watched him. Leaden footed and not nearly aggressive enough. He's about as good as Mark Edmonson was and he'll play a similar amount of games. On the other hand, the Burgess that is still at Bradford had a great game against Les Catalans and looks more Sam than Luke.

I think the twins are the biggest overall - look at the bloody size of George here!

Luke would appear to be the smallest, only an inch or two in height and giving away a bit weight by the look of things. I'm sure the NRL beefcake machine will soon bulk him up. Aussies do tend to be bigger.

He was very good for us this year Matt. He seemed to have got rid of the grounded foot work in defence and didnt make anywhere near as many errors with ball in hand as previous years. Also, he is at a comparable stage of his career (dispite being older) to Sam when he moved over. I did a stats comparison just before Luke got injured on the NRL board of him this year and Sam the year before he went. There was nothing in the 2 apart from line breaks. Ill try and find it.

He's a mile better than Edmonson was, and that's from a Saints supporter.
I think he's got flaws in his game, but I've seen him show real strength in games at knowsley road - once to score the winner, the other was when he really took it to us in a bad tempered match.

I wouldn't guarentee his success, but I think he has potential.

I’ve heard it all now – not only can the NRL make players better, they can also make them physically bigger too! English people have actually heard of strength training and conditioning you know

It could be a mill stone, i suppose, but Luke has the physical attributes and, assuming George starts to progress, surely that pressure would fuel your determination to succeed?

Week 2 Stats:

Minutes - 36 (1 spell)
Hit ups - 12
Metres - 97 (8.1m/carry)
Offloads - 2
Tackles - 13
Missed - 2

Looked much more settled today and started looking for the offloads, which he didnt even attempt last week. Took the ball up hard and only got smashed once. Got a fair few mentions off the comm team too about his involvement and the quality of it. Channel 9 do love a Burgess though

Luke was strong yesterday and he seemed to lift the Rabbitohs when he came on, ironically as soon as he went off Manly scored three tries in about five minutes.