Bradford Bulls prop Tom Burgess signs for South Sydney

8:28am Monday 6th August 2012 in Bulls By Ian Laybourn

Tom Burgess will link up with his brothers Sam, twin George and Luke in Australia Tom Burgess will link up with his brothers Sam, twin George and Luke in Australia

South Sydney will reunite Bradford forward Tom Burgess with his three brothers after signing him for 2013.

The 20-year-old prop follow in the footsteps of former Bradford favourite Sam Burgess , who is in his fourth season with the Australian club, as well his twin brother George and former Leeds prop Luke.

George, who joined the Rabbitohs two years ago, today signed a new contract which will take him to the end of 2014.

He never got the chance to play in Super League but made his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs this season and played three first grade games before being ruled out with a lower intestine injury.

“We’re really pleased to have secured the services of these two young front rowers,” said Souths head coach Michael Maguire, who witnessed Tom’s debut season in Super League in 2011 while he was in charge of Wigan.

“George has come a long way in my time with the club and was making the most of his first-grade opportunities until an unfortunate injury struck.

“He’s back training and is working hard to get back into shape and hopefully he can play a part in the remainder of our 2012 season.

“Thomas is another addition to our strong front row and will create further competition for spots which strengthens the club as a whole.

“It’s very special to be able to bring the four brothers together here at the Rabbitohs.

“We value ourselves as a family-oriented club and to have Sam, Luke, George and Thomas all with us next year is something very special for the club and the game.”

Tom, an England academy international who has missed only one of Bradford’s 25 matches this season, was out of contract at the end of the year.

Although he faced an uncertain future, with the Bulls’ Super League place under threat after going into administration, he was always expected to join his brothers in Australia one day.

He rejected the opportunity to sign for the Rabbitohs at the same time as George in order to fulfil his dream of playing in Super League for Bradford and he has now made 44 senior appearances.

Comments(51)

Wally Lewis says...
8:32am Mon 6 Aug 12

Its only a 12 month deal so shows its a risk signing. I cant honestly see him getting in to the NRL 1st team to begin with. He drops too much ball and cant do long minutes, I think we will slowly see the team being ripped apart & lads being signed up by other clubs unless something happens pretty quick. The ABC consortium seem to have gone quiet as has Gerry Sutcliffe and the other bidders.

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Schoey 2 says...
8:45am Mon 6 Aug 12

Good luck to the lad, probably no surprise at ell Tom is going even with the latest bulls**t goings on at Odsal.

He goes there with 2 full SL seasons under his belt, and will get some top coaching at SS that will no doubt improve his game.

The first of our bright starts to head out, plus Crookes already signed at FC. No await the exodus of the rest of the young lads over the next month or so.

Good luck Tom.

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Solomon Grundy says...
8:54am Mon 6 Aug 12

This would have happened anyway regardless of the Bulls woes. He's a big loss, indeed the 4 of them are a massive loss to the game over here.

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flashdonut says...
8:58am Mon 6 Aug 12

Good luck Tom. Always going to happen, so no real shock. Rabbaitoh's have a huge marketing tool tehre, I am sure that is partly the reason. But all the best Tom anyway, tear it up.
.
As for Crookes, 5 good games in four seasons. I will not lose sleep over him leaving. And most of those games it was because he was feeding of Lulia.
.
As the great Alex Murphy said, ''There is no such thing as a great winger. If they were that good they would be a centre''. Except Big Les and TV.

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mines a pint says...
8:58am Mon 6 Aug 12

This is the worst kept secret at the Bulls

I posted earlier this year that he would leave at the end of the season & also that he had made a very shrewd move not to go when George did

He was always a little in George's shadow at Bradford but with 44 1st grade apearances under his belt that has all changed & I would not be surprised if he had secured a better deal than the extension George has just signed

I guess that means if the debacle is sorted out & we remain in SL we will be stuck with Scrutton who has yet to really do anything at Bradford & given his problem wioth injuries probably never will

One of our worst signings in recent years IMO & he wont be cheap

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Tricky Dicky says...
9:01am Mon 6 Aug 12

Good luck, Tom - dreams do come true - and thank you for your time at the Bulls.

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BirchLane-1964 says...
9:08am Mon 6 Aug 12

Not surprised there. Real shame as potentially we have a good set of youngsters for the future, but given the choice of Australia, sun and family or Bradford, most of us would snap up the chance down under.
Good luck to the lad hope he makes it

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Bingley Bull says...
9:23am Mon 6 Aug 12

flashdonut wrote:
Good luck Tom. Always going to happen, so no real shock. Rabbaitoh's have a huge marketing tool tehre, I am sure that is partly the reason. But all the best Tom anyway, tear it up. . As for Crookes, 5 good games in four seasons. I will not lose sleep over him leaving. And most of those games it was because he was feeding of Lulia. . As the great Alex Murphy said, ''There is no such thing as a great winger. If they were that good they would be a centre''. Except Big Les and TV.
Offiah, Groath, O'Donald, Meli, O'conner, Sailor, Boston! Do I need to go on? Not bad players IMO. Alex Murphy said a lot of things, most of them b@ll@cks! Come on Flash I thought you knew about the game!

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murphyslaw says...
9:31am Mon 6 Aug 12

Tom was always likely to go. Bateman is also a big hit down under and it will be a surprise if he is not snapped up next.

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flashdonut says...
9:32am Mon 6 Aug 12

Just passing on Murphy's wisdom! He has a bit of a point. But Crookes is no loss. As dodgy as Murphy's wisdom may be, Crookes wouldn't lace the players boots you mentioned.

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t'old man says...
9:38am Mon 6 Aug 12

No real surprise it was always going to be a case of when not if he signed.....

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Essexbull2 says...
10:04am Mon 6 Aug 12

Good luck to Tom and is this the start of the exodus?

The RFL have given the green light to players talking with other clubs and (effectively) made it very clear that the debt must be cleared through a new owner if we are to stay in Super League.

It seems very clear that we will be in the Championship next season, unless somebody comes forward ... which won't happen, since they will want tangible assets if they are to stump up millions and the RFL has clearly demonstrated it will not accept such proposals.

Our woes lie with past management and I think it's time we were given some answers about what the hell has been going on the past few years with the finances.

However, the RFL is showing its total incompetence in this matter as well, which is more worrying for the sport as a whole.

Depressed.

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skellett47 says...
10:21am Mon 6 Aug 12

Frankly, can't se this latest RF proposal doing anything at the moment other than bringing about the end of the Bulls. I'm sure all the players wll have either been approached by other clubs, or will have actively been seeking alternative employment for next year.

If the SL Europe plan is to sell the Bulls before the end of November, then I'm afraid there won't be a club to sell by then. The best players will have been 'snapped up' for next season by other clubs. Those payers that were going anyway because they were not up to scratch will have gone. The best of the young players, who were to be the future of the club will have gone. The coaching staff will have gone along with the remaining staff will have gone. So what would be left to sell by SL Europe? And what would be let fo any potential purchaser. The answer is nothing!!!!

With little prospect of anyone being willing to spend £1.5m intially to clear the current debts (in order to secure the Bulls Super League future), and then having to find a significant amount of additional cash to fund the club going forward, I fear the club is doomed. I'm hoping against hope that I'm proved wrong. But at the moment I'm struggling to see any other likely scenario.

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DevonBull says...
10:23am Mon 6 Aug 12

Oh dear, I remember our daughters reaction when Sam left! Obvious outcome for him but good luck. She wont be happy!

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Bacon Bantam says...
10:36am Mon 6 Aug 12

The Exodus starts.

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Bingley Bull says...
10:45am Mon 6 Aug 12

flashdonut wrote:
Just passing on Murphy's wisdom! He has a bit of a point. But Crookes is no loss. As dodgy as Murphy's wisdom may be, Crookes wouldn't lace the players boots you mentioned.
Agree with you totaly about Crookes. Half a prospect so let him have a go elsewhere.
As for Bateman going down under - he may not be at Bradford next year but I do not see him going there. He has a very close relationship with his daughter and would not leave her. Wire not that far to travel!

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THEMANOFSTEEL says...
10:49am Mon 6 Aug 12

Keep positive. 17 players need to sort their futures out. Until we find out if we are going to survive and stay in Superleague anything can happen.
Burgess is a massive prop but how long does he actually play???
Can be replaced shame to lose ome grown players and for FREE!!!
Players like Bateman have to be sold so their is hope of sorting the debts. Just need to keep developing the youth team. COYB

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Wally Lewis says...
11:11am Mon 6 Aug 12

Who ever is sold it will onlty be to pay the Administrator. But he can try n sell who he wants. If the player wont sign for who ever has bid for them its tough titty on Guilfoyle.

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
11:17am Mon 6 Aug 12

1/17

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
11:18am Mon 6 Aug 12

1/17

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Prycey says...
11:22am Mon 6 Aug 12

This was on the cards and Crooks isn’t a big loss to me after just a few good games outside Lulia. The longer we carry on without a championship club being told “you are in”, the more chance we have of being in super league next year. I would hate to be the Fax or Fev chairman if I was told in January can you play in super league next month. At least Widnes got about 9 months notice. It’s only 6 months to start of new season so if they are dropping us they MUST do it now. If we are still discussing this in November we must be starting SL next year or they are going with 13 teams.

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bullslad17 says...
11:55am Mon 6 Aug 12

Good luck Tom!

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mines a pint says...
11:57am Mon 6 Aug 12

flashdonut wrote:
Just passing on Murphy's wisdom! He has a bit of a point. But Crookes is no loss. As dodgy as Murphy's wisdom may be, Crookes wouldn't lace the players boots you mentioned.
rather him the Pryce the big lazy lump always out of position in defence & only capable of scorring when alll the hard graft has been done by someone else

If he did not have the class of Lulia inside him we would really see how bad he is

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raisemeup says...
12:14pm Mon 6 Aug 12

flashdonut wrote:
Good luck Tom. Always going to happen, so no real shock. Rabbaitoh's have a huge marketing tool tehre, I am sure that is partly the reason. But all the best Tom anyway, tear it up.
.
As for Crookes, 5 good games in four seasons. I will not lose sleep over him leaving. And most of those games it was because he was feeding of Lulia.
.
As the great Alex Murphy said, ''There is no such thing as a great winger. If they were that good they would be a centre''. Except Big Les and TV.
Let's not forget with all his brothers and his Mother moving to Aus. He really has no reason to stay.

Good luck Tom, it's a fine city.

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city down south says...
12:18pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Prycey wrote:
This was on the cards and Crooks isn’t a big loss to me after just a few good games outside Lulia. The longer we carry on without a championship club being told “you are in”, the more chance we have of being in super league next year. I would hate to be the Fax or Fev chairman if I was told in January can you play in super league next month. At least Widnes got about 9 months notice. It’s only 6 months to start of new season so if they are dropping us they MUST do it now. If we are still discussing this in November we must be starting SL next year or they are going with 13 teams.
Look to the Scottish Premiership for how much notice lower league teams need to jump at the chance of playing where the money is, the fixtures were already out and the first match within weeks of the notice!

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bartsbull says...
12:25pm Mon 6 Aug 12

We now eed to know what is going to happen to our club

Tom was alays going to go to OZ he would e a fool not to

There are other players at the Bulls who would stay if they had some secure knowledge that the club is going to be purchased

But the longer this debatical goes on the more the future of the club in whatever guise is in serious trouble to carry on.

No one can blame any of the players or staff in seuring there future good luck to all of them

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BirchLane-1964 says...
12:46pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Just a point but isn't a certain mr Caisley the agent for Tom burgess and his brothers?

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sellrise says...
1:24pm Mon 6 Aug 12

I don't think he will be missed. All I have seen him do is knock on at play the ball (always in front of his own posts). Drop the ball in front of his own posts. I have never seen him scatter anyone with his size. He will never emulate his elder brother. I wish someone would also take our big lazy winger to Australia. He will never make it like his brother also.

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pjbull says...
1:58pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Bacon Bantam wrote:
The Exodus starts.
Will the last one out please switch the lights off.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
2:02pm Mon 6 Aug 12

pjbull wrote:
Bacon Bantam wrote: The Exodus starts.
Will the last one out please switch the lights off.
Do they have any lights? Has the leccy bill been paid?

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Bacon Bantam says...
2:22pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:
pjbull wrote:
Bacon Bantam wrote: The Exodus starts.
Will the last one out please switch the lights off.
Do they have any lights? Has the leccy bill been paid?
Bit of a pointless comment there you two. The clubs been run into the ground by the owner not the fans.

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beardedclam says...
2:39pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Finally, the rats start jumping off the sinking ship!

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pjbull says...
2:40pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Just expressing my thoughts Bacon: it seems inevitable that Tom will be heading a string of players leaving. By granting players permission to speak to other clubs as from now, they have left any potential new owner with no time to secure key players (at least previously they had until the end of August). If I had the money to buy the Club, I'd be less inclined to do so knowing that it had just been asset-stripped of its playing talent. Trust me Bacon, I am absolutely gutted.

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Philip Ennis says...
3:01pm Mon 6 Aug 12

To ALL, especially those city supporters, bacon bantam, tvor, et al. We, the true bulls supporters expected Tom to travel downunder soon. Others will exit the club, no doubt, but we accept that, par for the course, under administration. So your snide remarks meaning nothing. Slc52, this also applies to you to. 1/17, is this the odds on bulls staying in super league. Or your attempt at humour, I'll help you with the next, 2/17. Again, true bulls supporters know players will go, it's to be expected given the situation.

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Prycey says...
3:32pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Like P Ennis states the real fans expected this. I think most also expect championship next year with a totally different team appart from the poor players who won't get snapped up. I hope we stay up but deep down I am preparing myself for the drop. If / when it happens we must keep the colts team in tact as they could be the heart our new super league team in 5 years time. We should be telling them that now so they see whatever happens as an opportunity for them with us in a couple of years.

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
3:37pm Mon 6 Aug 12

You feeling left out P enis lad aww bless, listen you have a good way to go to be my friend like viking and sheff.

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Philip Ennis says...
4:06pm Mon 6 Aug 12

1.
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2.
a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?

Look at these two definitions of friends, we, Sheffield, Viking, myself, do not fit into any of these.

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Mumby was the best says...
4:58pm Mon 6 Aug 12

beardedclam wrote:
Finally, the rats start jumping off the sinking ship!
Your statement is correct in its intention but to call them Rats is out of order, they are looking for secure work like anybody in their situation should.
Good luck Tom it was inevitable, but get some resin on your hands. I agree Crookes is no loss.

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franklyn says...
5:06pm Mon 6 Aug 12

RFL only stepped in and kept the club afloat so they can complete this seasons fixtures.
They have already indicated bulls won't be in S/L next term, thats why it's all gone quiet on the club sale front.
any player worth anything will be sold to lower the debt. don't even think we'll have a team in national league. We'll see.

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baildonbullette says...
5:14pm Mon 6 Aug 12

It comes as no surprise to us. My husband and I have been following Sam,Luke & George's progress with the Bunnies all season and knew it would be the next thing on the agenda to have the brothers reunited in Aussie.
We wish him all the best and hope he enjoys it as much as Sam so obviously does.

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
5:35pm Mon 6 Aug 12

P enis Your friendship is not needed by me and I am sure myself, viking and sheff will get along quite nicely without you.

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Philip Ennis says...
6:41pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Once again proving you are of limited intelligence. You have to insult my given name. Whilst hiding behind a nom de plume. I know you dare not use yours for fear of retribution, from those of us who detest you and your type. Not rugby news, this, but highly interesting. The chap who threw, the bottle, prior to the100ms race, at the olympics was from south Milford, LEEDS. What a right wally, bottle was full.

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
6:44pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Innocent till proven guilty not part of your world willy ?

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Philip Ennis says...
6:50pm Mon 6 Aug 12

What you on about? You make no sense. Mind you you never have, so what's new?

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-HCK3R- says...
6:53pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Think everybody knew he would go eventually so no real surprise, unfortunately when SLE take over the other clubs will be like vultures with nobody to fight them off........

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scandanavian's love child52 says...
6:56pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Has the bottle thrower been convicted me old **** ? Just chill out phillip and dont look to pick fault in everyone I am sure the mrs would rather you be a nice person than a victor meldrew character.

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bartsbull says...
7:23am Tue 7 Aug 12

Here is a hope what if we get into the top eight and stay there for the play offs

We then go on and get to the grand final what would the RFL do then lets say we win it

Would they still demote the club to the lower league

It could happen but i can not see th RFL letting it most ofthe players will be sold of by then unless that purchaser gets in quick but not if Guilfoile a anything to do with it

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murphyslaw says...
9:40am Tue 7 Aug 12

bartsbull wrote:
Here is a hope what if we get into the top eight and stay there for the play offs

We then go on and get to the grand final what would the RFL do then lets say we win it

Would they still demote the club to the lower league

It could happen but i can not see th RFL letting it most ofthe players will be sold of by then unless that purchaser gets in quick but not if Guilfoile a anything to do with it
Talk about "always look on the bright side of life" that's a corking post.Bulls winning the Grand Final really would put the cat amongst the pigeons. The RFL would have to have a serious rethink, they could not possibly demote us, we would be saved.
.
DREAM ON!!!!

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SellingEnglandByThePound says...
11:44am Tue 7 Aug 12

Good Luck Fella! As a lot have posted already, was only a matter of time so no real surprise with all that's going on. With all this talk about possibly playing in the under leagues, as a season ticket holder for a good many years, i'd actually welcome it! Have missed a few games this season (by choice) and got rid of Sky Sports a while ago simply because i've gotten bored with watching us play the same teams/players season in, season out! I for one would like to see us play Cougars, Fax, Bulldogs & Rams, and always looked forward to watching these teams on a Thursday night on Sky, anyone know why they stopped showing them? Now, with that out in the open, I shall await the death threats from the supposed "Die Hards"!

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
12:09pm Tue 7 Aug 12

SellingEnglandByTheP
ound wrote:
Good Luck Fella! As a lot have posted already, was only a matter of time so no real surprise with all that's going on. With all this talk about possibly playing in the under leagues, as a season ticket holder for a good many years, i'd actually welcome it! Have missed a few games this season (by choice) and got rid of Sky Sports a while ago simply because i've gotten bored with watching us play the same teams/players season in, season out! I for one would like to see us play Cougars, Fax, Bulldogs & Rams, and always looked forward to watching these teams on a Thursday night on Sky, anyone know why they stopped showing them? Now, with that out in the open, I shall await the death threats from the supposed "Die Hards"!
Lower league Rugby League is on Premier Sports now and is still on a Thursday night. The build up in freeview but the match require subscription.

I believe the Cougars are on this Thursday against Leigh.

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Shelfrhino says...
12:38pm Tue 7 Aug 12

bartsbull wrote:
Here is a hope what if we get into the top eight and stay there for the play offs We then go on and get to the grand final what would the RFL do then lets say we win it Would they still demote the club to the lower league It could happen but i can not see th RFL letting it most ofthe players will be sold of by then unless that purchaser gets in quick but not if Guilfoile a anything to do with it
You really shouldn't post on here when you've just had your first crack pipe of the day.

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