Why NRL shouldn?t fund Sam Burgess return ? What You Missed on TV last night
- Staff writers
- FOX SPORTS
- September 10, 2015 9:20PM
ARE South Sydney clearing the decks for Sam Burgess? NRL return?
With Glenn Stewart leaving South Sydney at the end of the season, NRL360 hosts Ben Ikin and Paul Kent expect the Englishman to return to Australia next year following the Rugby World Cup.
But Kent says if the NRL helps the Rabbitohs sign Burgess, they will be doing disservice to the other 15 clubs.
to the Rabbitohs with Glenn Stewart leaving at the end of the year?
That?s the belief among rugby league?s inner sanctum with the 2014 Clive Churchill medal winner expected to return to Australia following his stint representing England in the rugby World Cup.
?There?s a lot of talk he will be back,? Ikin said.
?He can?t announce it now because of the rugby World Cup.?
This week on the Market Watch podcast injured Broncos star Josh McGuire joins Brett Kimmorley and the boys to talk Nathan Brown?s biggest assignments at the Knights and a possible destination for Robbie Farah.
While the Rabbitohs are favourites to secure Burgess? signature should he return, Ikin notes that there will be pressure for him to sign with the Super League.
Foxsports.com.au revealed on Monday that Salford have identified Burgess as a player they would like to sign on a marquee deal.
Under the marquee player allowance, the Super League allows every club to sign a player where only a portion of their wage is counted on the cap.
?(Salford?s director of rugby) Tim Sheens has made no secret of the fact they would like Sam Burgess to become their marquee player,? Ikin said.
But Kent isn?t sold on Burgess staying in England.
?The fact his brothers and mother are out here, there?s more behind this,? Kent said
?He doesn?t want to go back to Super League, he wants to come back to the toughest competition.?
But with the big money of Super League potentially standing in the NRL?s way of welcoming Burgess back, it could prompt league boss Dave Smith to opens his war chest to fund the move.
But Kent warns it would be a huge mistake should Smith take that route.
?I hope it never gets used,? Kent said of the war chest.
?I don?t think it should ever be used. The NRL should not be allowed to use discretionary payments.
?Why does South Sydney have a right ahead of the Raiders or Tigers to use NRL money?
?If Souths can afford him on the salary cap, they can have him. If he wants to take less because he would prefer to play at Souths, good on him.
?Either all 16 clubs should have access to marquee player payments or none. It?s unfair.?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...on-tv-last-night/story-fn2mcuj6-1227521848893