Burgess stands defiant
Rabbitoh waits for truth
HIS emotional face turned to stone before a defiant and stern Sam Burgess declared: “I will be fine come game time.”
This was Burgess’s way of saying: “I won’t be broken.’’
In a highly charged press conference at Redfern Oval, Burgess yesterday spoke about the sexting scandal that has engulfed his life and how rugby league will drag him through the controversy.
Burgess will somehow find an inner-strength to push aside a week from hell and throw his entire focus into Saturday night’s grand final qualifier against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
The Rabbitohs enforcer went through myriad emotions in a difficult 11-minute, 36-second press conference which was watched by dozens of Souths fans.
One yelled: “Be strong, Sam.” Another screamed: “He can’t get any stronger”.
While saying little about the off-field drama, Burgess said he would be galvanised on the field through the support of teammates and family.
He looked a man hellbent on destroying the Roosters.
“I will be fine come game time,” Burgess said. “Football has been my life for a long time. I get on the field and I play football.”
Burgess’s verified social media accounts were used in a sexting drama that triggered a young woman’s complaints to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
Souths officials continue to investigate the incident where players exposed themselves to a 23-year-old woman via a social media account belonging to Burgess.
The club has refused to name the players involved.
“I’m not getting into any detail – there is an NRL investigation going on at the moment. And I am happy for them to get to the truth, I really am,” Burgess said.
It is believed Souths’ inquiry – in conjunction with the NRL Integrity Unit – will be completed by tomorrow.