www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/o ... er-of-year well deserved.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/o ... er-of-year well deserved.

Fully deserved amazing player.

Gutted he has gone to union but as some people may know the Burgess brothers are friends with Kelvin Fletcher who plays Andy in emmerdale and my mate heard from Kelvin that the main reason he left for union is simply to give his body a rest.

Hopefully after two and a half years of boredom in rugby union, he will return to rugby league refreshed and eager to play. My hunch is that he will reject offers from Salford and Dewsbury, and return to the back row at South Sydney.

Makes sense. A rugby union player who hasn't played an international game this year is the obvious candidate for Rugby League International Player of the year.

I'm glad they didn't wait until after the major international competition of the year to dish out these awards, or it could have gone to someone undeserved.

Sam even stated in an interview that his body wouldn't last till he was 30 if he stayed in the NRL - he will do 2 years of Union and give his body a rest then go back to Souths

It is important that Samuel Burgess is available to play for England in the 2017 World Cup, at that time at age 28, playing alongside the by then 32 year old prop James Graham, and his still young twin brother props George and Thomas.

Not another British player being a roaring success in the NRL? Damn, we'd all been living under the assumption that they were all rubbish, or well at least some kept on trying to tell us that for the past decade and longer.

I wonder who will win Brighouse's Golden Boot award now that Sinfield has internationally retired?

Danny Brough perhaps?

It is a shambles. And most of the blame belongs to Nigel Wood and the RFL who have abandoned development of the game in France.

By contrast the NRL admin has already brought a PNG team into the Queensland Cup, and has invited a Fijian team into the NSW Cup for 2016.

What I think we've lost is the connection between the club fan and the international scene, somewhat brought about by the lack of a full tour schedule.

Upto 1994 it was great to see your club team play against the Aussies, and really built up the excitement for the test matches.

I would like to see a GB Lions tour like the huge event the Union lot have, every 2 years to NZ and Australia alternately. They have much more respect for the GB brand over there. Do it during the summer season and also play a few games against the club sides. WC every 5 years and stick with the home nation brand through that with a 4 or 5 nations on the odd years off season giving the likes of Scotland Wales etc.. a chance to grow and get a settled side and mix it with the stronger English team.Also gives players a chance to attach their allegiance to a nation and strive to get selected for the GB tours.

Im pretty none of this will happen but something needs to be done and people have to buy into it for the long term.

Wasn't it the NRL or rather its players that said they didn't want a Lions Tour to visit next year because they're too tired? What an f'in joke. The NRL's all about helping the southern hemisphere international teams, but what about helping the teams in the Northern hemisphere? What the NRL need is to lose a few more Australian players like Hayne and Folau, then they might sit up and take notice.

Who needs pretty boy Sam when we've got blockbusting George? Get into 'em!