Burgess has little or no passing capability and is a great runner in a straight line. I can't see him being much cop in attack or defensively as a centre in either code. Defensively he'll make some big hits but also has the real potential of being little more than a traffic cone to more mobile opponents. He's nowhere near as skilful or mobile a player as SBW.

He's trying for centre because the main reason he's gone to RU is to play in the World Cup - and he'd have no chance of being anywhere near if he started learning a forward's role.

Brad Thorn played union as a junior, which was why he was able to make the transition relatively easily.

Sam leaving is really bad for RL IMO. If he succeeds he'll encourage more raids. As it is I hope that RU is making the same mistake RL often used to, and going for players who look great in the other code, ignoring the fact that they are actually tailor-made for the code they are already in.

I think Burgess will do union, try to make 2015, failing that 2019 and then back to the NRL, I then think he'll stay out there and naturalise and never come back to the UK (to live).

I think if he does return to SL it won't be until he's 32/33 just so he can have a crack at winning a GF and CC over here.

I thought I'd put enough sarcasm in my post for people to spot, I must try harder. If you watched the best two teams in the world at the weekend NZ and SA battling it out you can't possibly see Burgess playing centre. It seems England are stuck in a timewarp when it comes to inside backs, lack of mobility and limited ball skill are apparantly not issues for the red rose. DeVilliers and Cameron Smith are veterans, not known for their pace but both would leave Burgess for dead. I completely agree with you Andy, he can't kick, he has not the pace (acceleration) of a back and his ball skills are okay but limited to offloading in heavy contact. Number 8 is where he would fit for me, but he will have to learn very rapidly how to win ball at the breakdown. I know it's unfair to comapre him with the likes of Kieron Reid and the excellent Vermeulen but that's what he's got to be aiming at. Big ball carrier, good hands in contact and fast and strong at the breakdown. Frankly though English rugby could have saved themsleves the trouble and removed the cork from up their @r$e about non UK based players and then we could select the best player in Europe - Stefan Armitage.

If Lancaster and Farrell want him at centre then it confirms that the RFU have made a huge mistake by giving the current England coaching set up two World cups worth of contract.

how does that work then, do you not have the same salary cap as everyone else?

Everything about burgess his skill set is size his pace his aggression is that of an out and out league player, hope he relises this very quickly and is back in RL in time for next season.

I tend to agree. If he'd grown up playing Union then I can imagine he would be world class - he's got the talent - but he didn't. I think it's a real shame he's switched code, league badly needs players like him.

I said at the time I didn't think it would happen just because I don't think it works for anybody. Physically he does not fit in the game of union without a lot of time developing the core skills of a forward.

Financially, he won't have come cheap, and the RFU could end up with egg on their faces if it doesn't go well.

League loses out, because another player who is at the top of the game has defected for the other code.

I agree with this.I also think Sam has had assurances that he will play a part in the WC next year no matter what which is obviously the big draw card the RFU has money aside.

I dont see him staying, nor do i think he has any intention of staying in Union more than a couple of years and have no doubt he will be back sooner rather than later.As others have said, given time and patience he could be a great forward in the other code but i don't think he is going to be willing to go down that route.

I might be wrong, but wasn't this purely a Bath Rugby investment? I thought the RFU had given up financing these moves.

On Sam Burgess, I read earlier that he was the first non-Australian to win the Clive Churchill medal. Is it daft of me to be a bit surprised that no kiwis have ever won it?

As I understand it, the RFU had agreed to finance part of the deal but Bath wouldn't agree to play him as and when the RFU requested and in the position of the RFU's choice. Bath were paying his wages and wanted choice to play him as they see fit so the RFU pulled out completely.

I suspect that the article below will scupper any chances in the short term of Burgess returning to any SL club: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_164 ... eturn.html

I suspect that the article below will scupper any chances in the short term of Burgess returning to any SL club: www.loverugbyleague.com/news_164 ... eturn.html

I wonder what will be going through his mind next October when he will be playing for England in the RU World Cup against Russia or Uruguay at Etihad Stadium, when up road on the very same evening it will be the Superleague Grand Final

I won the NRL premiership and the clive Churchill medal this time last year and now the RFU are giving me sack loads of cash to play against these turkeys infront of 50,000 fans?

They are probably the only thoughts that will keep him going.

Good luck to him , he deserves the rest