Sam may be gone but Burgess name lives on as twins sign senior contracts (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Sam may be gone but Burgess name lives on as twins sign senior contracts

7:00am Thursday 12th November 2009 in

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Comparisons to their famous siblings are inevitable but the Bulls’ Burgess twins are ready to make their own way after signing full-time deals at Odsal.

Prop pair George and Tom, younger brothers of England star Sam and Leeds forward Luke, both put pen to paper on three-year contracts this week.

The 17-year-old duo’s decision to commit to the Bulls comes just six weeks after older brother Sam confirmed he was leaving the club to join NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Both players make the step up to the first-grade squad for 2010 after playing key roles in last season’s successful Under-18s side, which narrowly missed out on a place in the Gillette Academy Championship Grand Final.

It’s disappointing we’re not going to get the chance to play with Sam but in some ways it’s good to get out of that shadow and make your own name

Tom Burgess

And both are keen to emerge from the considerable shadow cast by their elder brothers.

Tom said: “It’s going to be awesome. It’s a big chance to show the coaches what you are made of and put your name in their heads for selection.

“Hopefully I’ll get a shot in Super League next year but I just want to get some good games under my belt and keep improving.

“It’s disappointing that we’re not going to get the chance to play with Sam but in some ways it’s good to get out of that shadow and make your own name.”

Signed from under the noses of rivals Leeds Rhinos, the twins arrived at Odsal almost two years ago after coming through the scholarship scheme at Headingley.

They began training with the Super League squad a fortnight ago and, although the word ‘pre-season’ usually strikes dread into the heart of professional rugby players, they are loving every minute.

George said: “It’s going to be a big change from last year when we were still at college and only training in the evening but I’m excited.

“It’s really good to be training with the first team, I’ve been waiting for this for ages. I’m going to try and really kick on next year, both of us have always dreamed of playing in Super League together.”

The boys’ rugby bloodlines run even deeper than their brothers, as mum Julie was also a Great Britain women’s international.

But Bulls chief Steve McNamara is keen for them to be judged on their own merits.

McNamara said: “They have probably developed quicker than I have ever seen a pair of young boys develop.

“You shouldn’t compare them to their brothers or to each other, they are both good players in their own right. Luckily one of them has dyed his hair, so it means we can tell them apart!

“They came into this club by themselves and they are promising young players. We want to give them the platform to become successful but there is no pressure on them.”