UPPING sticks from West Yorkshire and moving to Sydney has developed Thomas Burgess as a player – but also made him a man.

Burgess was 20 when he took the decision to join his three brothers at South Sydney Rabbitohs at the end of 2012.

The former Bulls youngster has since grown in stature both on and off the pitch.

"You grow up generally, don't you?" he said. 

"I've been there playing but I'm learning things and growing as a person too.

"Since moving to Souths I have become a man, although I'm still young now at 23.

"You go through life doing different things, such as buying houses and taking on different responsibilities. That probably changes you a little bit."

Thomas and twin brother George have just signed new three-year deals which keep them at the Rabbitohs until the end of 2018.

"I'm really happy at Souths," said Thomas. "I've been there for three years now and I've loved it because it's a great place to live. I've got most of my family there, so there were a lot of factors in me signing the new deal.

"The main reason was that it's the best thing for me at this point in my career. It's a great club with a great set of players and staff, with great fans too."

The Burgess boys have been the focus of much media attention following their fairytale story of playing together for Souths and achieving Grand Final glory in 2014.

Thomas admitted: "It's hard because there is a lot of scrutiny on the rugby league players over there.

"I think a lot of the actors and high-profile Australians who make it, they move away and they're not in Australia. The focus is on the sportsmen and women, so I think that's why there is so much scrutiny on them.

"You've just got to take into account the fact you've got a responsibility and you can't do what everyone else would do. You've got to be careful, especially if you're having a drink with your friends.

"You've got to be mindful that people are watching and it's something that you've got to learn as part of growing up. I've had to learn that you've got to lead by example."

That responsibility does not faze Burgess in the slightest.

He said: "It comes with the territory, I think. If you didn't have that, then the game wouldn't be as big and you wouldn't have a job. I think it's a plus, if anything.

"Any time you get asked for a picture and you think 'this is a bit annoying', you've got to think that it's good because the game has this much popularity.

"There will be one day when no-one wants your picture, so you've got to enjoy it while you can."