Word coming out of Australia suggests that Sam Burgess’ rugby career has hit yet another speed bump as his would-be employers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, now seemingly cannot afford the duel-code star’s wages. With salary caps in place for all the clubs participating within the NRL, the bean-counters need to have all their ducks in a row when it comes to balancing the books – but it appears that someone might have got their numbers wrong.
The Rabbitoh’s now find themselves in the unenviable position if having to release some of their existing players from their contracts in order to afford Burgess’ wages – and whilst Dylan Walker has been let go following his recent prescription drug-related misdemeanour, the Souths still need to identify further deadwood.
The Rabbitohs haven’t given up all hope of balancing the books in time for the new season though, and are now believed to be close to laying the foundations for the former Bradford Bulls man’s arrival after Isaac Luke and Glenn Stewart were moved on to the New Zealand Warriors and Catalans Dragons respectively.
As a final move, it is understood that Chris Grevsmuhl’s proposed 2017 move to the Penrith Panthers could be moved forward by a year in order to facilitate the current transfer merry-go-round and get Burgess registered in time for Souths’ first match of the 2016 season against the Sydney Roosters at the Allianz Stadium on March 6th.
Having finished seventh in the NRL last season, the Rabbitohs will be desperate for their sizeable and well-publicised signing of Burgess – who will also be hoping to put the last twelve months behind him following a disastrous switch to Rugby Union culminating in England’s group stage exit at the World Cup – to pay dividends.
Such was Burgess’ influence during bis previous four years in Australia, bookies were immediately sent back to the drawing board with regards the Rabbitohs’ chances in the NRL this season, and they now look mightily tempting at 2/1 to finish inside the top-four in 2016. That sounds like one of the safest bets in the sport right now, but you can limit the risk even further by betting via Coral’s mobile app, where you can keep an eye out for money back offers as well as taking advantage of their generous welcome bonus,
Understandably, Coral currently have the Brisbane Broncos as outright favourites to be 2016 NRL Grand Final Champions (4/1), but the Rabbitohs still look to have a decent shout at 9/1 – but you can expect those odds to tumble provided Burgess is re-signed and starts to replicate the form that saw him deliver the 2014 NRL Premiership.
