Bradford Bulls ace Burgess: It’s a dream come true to join my three brothers in Australia (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls ace Tom Burgess: It’s a dream come true to join my three brothers in Australia

7:40am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Bulls By Ross Heppenstall , Bradford Bulls Reporter

Tom Burgess revealed he turned down offers from rival Super League clubs before completing a dream move to join his three brothers at South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Bulls prop will join the NRL outfit on a one-year deal for 2013 and his departure is likely to spark a mass exodus of players from Odsal .

Burgess, 20, is one of 17 players out of contract at the end of the year and, with massive uncertainty still surrounding the Bradford’s future, several of his team-mates are set to follow him through the exit door.

Olivier Elima is expected to join Catalan Dragons, Jason Crookes looks certain to head to Hull FC, Ben Jeffries is poised to return to Australia and Bryn Hargreaves is poised to take up a contract with a different Super League club.

Burgess’ move Down Under to join brothers Sam, Luke and George is not unexpected and marks an outstanding opportunity for him to make his name in the NRL.

Twin brother George has also signed a new two-year deal in Sydney after making his first-grade debut for the Rabbitohs against the Bulldogs this season, while Sam and Luke are also under contract for the 2013 campaign.

Burgess, who has enjoyed a fine campaign and been a virtual ever-present, revealed the Bulls’ financial meltdown sparked interest from elsewhere in Super League.

“I was off contract at the end of the year and if I was going to stay in England it would have been at Bradford,” he said.

“But when everything kicked off with the financial problems, there were offers from other Super League clubs.

“In the last couple of weeks I’ve just been trying to decide what to do and whether I should stay in England for a couple more years.

“I spoke to my brothers and a lot of other people about it and I just decided that I wanted to go to Australia and keep improving as a player.

“It’s a dream come true to join my three brothers out there. I think it’s the right decision for me at this moment in time. I didn’t go too early and I think I’ve timed it well.”

Burgess’ mother Julie is expected to join her four sons in Sydney and Tom added: “She’s a teacher so I don’t think she will struggle to get a job out there.

“I don’t think she could live in England with her four boys out in Australia.”