One year, remember. And the NRL will wait - its not as if he's getting on in years. And I did not suggest Sam would "sulk" - just maybe "pick his games". That way, he loses none of his attraction on the world stage, but would not necessarily have to play a blinder at e.g. Salford away.

Mate, I wish we COULD get £1/2m for him. But we won't, and I think need to face the realities of the situation.

I'm gutted that Sam will be leaving the club soon, he is by far our biggest star. But is he really worth his current wages plus 200k for another years service? Of course the 200k offer from Crowe might not be true but I still feel we should consider offers of player exchange IF they're of the right quality and position. Obviously if we do not receive a satisfactory deal then we have the pleasure of seeing Sam for at least another season.

To suggest we should be holding out for 500k+ for him from the NRL is bordering on insanity.. it just won't happen.

Personally I'd rather wish the young lad all the best and make it clear we'd love to have him back here when he feels ready to return to SL. It would soften the blow to receive SOME sort of compensation than nothing at all in 12 months time.

Who cares about compenesation, keep him till his contract ends and we get 2 seasons worth of play from a top drawer player, that's worth a lot more than any measley amount of money.

And two years down the line when these backs have done naff all and decide to leave anyway, we have got neither Burgess or any other quality backs as a reseult of it.

And losing a player of Sams quality would severly weaken the pack, anybody would be a fool to think otherwise.


If Burgess is sold then I will not be going once next season.

Great post

But the information is that his contract has an opt out clause for 2010 for NRL clubs. I am 99% certain that the Bulls would be powerless to keep him if he chose to take up that clause which he almost certainly would do, it would seem. That the was the contract both parties agreed to.

Steve Mac can't be the USP after all for Sam.

Could we not, somehow, encourage Sam to commit a minor offence, then he won't get a visa and will have to stay here. Or are the Australian immigration authorities a bit happier to let criminals in?

So called info, at this moment.

Doesn't get away from the fact that he may well be "honoring" his contractual obligations.

All the best to him as far as I'm concerned. Good Kid. Good player. Good luck to him - I sincerely hope that if he does go it's all gravey for him.

For a young bloke, like a lot of other people, he's had to cope with a lot. I certainly wouldn't begrudge him putting himself first for a change.

. Doesn't quite follow - if you live in Baildon but eventually move to Ilkley, it doesn't mean you never liked Baildon. But I'll happily concede that losing Burgess would weaken the pro-SM argument.

Hood has said that bradford wont release burg for 200k and it will take 1m aus $ to get him otherwise he stays.

Lyon is dropping next yrs wage demands so that they can resign orford, williams robertson etc, so if he goes there wont be for players.

Source please?

That's close to the £0.5m that several folk on here have been clamouring for. If Hood HAS said that, then those folk who were holding out for that amount will be able to award themselves major bragging rights!