Whats the score with Luke Burgess at the moment? Is he injured or out of favour with the powers that be? Leeds look so soft up front at the moment as displayed by the stats thread on here about the Saints game. Throw him and Clarkson in and it steadies things up a bit surely? Or has he just failed to kick on from his early potential?

Is Burgess still going to the NRL to rub lotion into his brother's back or not? I take it he's not signed a new deal at Leeds? Could you see him moving within Super League? I know Saints are still short a couple of players for next season and can't sign any more NRL players..

I think he's more or less lost to the NRL which is a shame because he was showing some of his best form this season.

I haven't got a clue why he's not in the team at the moment.

He carries the ball into contact well, but has a couple of fairly serious flaws in my book. He doesn't have the best ball security around, and he can look a little leaden-footed in defence, even for a prop. Both can be worked on I think.

I also have no idea why he isn't in the team at the moment mind.

He's been our best prop by a mile. Not sure why souths would want him. They have a good pack, and he'd be way down the pecking order. But him going to Aus might explain why he's not playing.

On form so far this season, both of those flaws have been ironed out

"Had" dont you mean? His ball security this year has been great and he isnt as flat footed in defence any more either. Like any big guy he's going to get caught out on the odd occasion but it hasnt happened that much this season. For me, if he is fit (which I didnt realise he was) he should be starting with Peacock every week.

Agree with the above he should be in the 17 and his form has imnproved this year.
Hearing rumours about bonus payments preventing his and Clarksons selection but if that was the case surely they would'nt of inserted them in the contracts??

Fair enough then. I haven't seen as many full matches as I would like this year. I thought the flaws looked as present as ever at home to Hudds (the only time I've been in the stadium this year, for shame) but perhaps that wasn't the right game to judge by, on account of the heinous dicking we got....

Take your medicine El Diablo. They're right. The flaws seems to have been ironed out this year.

I think he has been injured. He was doing "rehab" work in the gym this week. If he's not been selected then it's baffling for the reasons Saddened set out in his OP. Knowing our coach mind that could be the case, giving his baffling decision to leave out Clarkson for Hauraki.

I suspect his future does lie in carrying Sam's training kit around for him in OZ, sadly.

Didn't Burgess and Clarkson play for the academy last week? Shocking that they are not playing!!

With respect, your honours, I withdraw my remark.

Perhaps I should write to Mr Burgess to apologise and donate a week's wages to the Big Daft Lad's Benevolent Fund?

He scored a couple in the U20s IIRC.

PFU will be happy then. Port all round.

Burgess has been one of our best forwards this year, very baffling decisions leaving him and clarkson. Don't think we will manage to keep him sure as others have mentioned off to carry SAMs gym bag in aus

correct. He had a good game and has been fit to play for the last 2 games at least. A complete mystery as to why not selected

Easy to understand we have mac in charge

Think he's a better player than that.He's better than Cross and no worse than Perry, Lima, O'Meley off the top of my head. He'd get a contract and play his fair share IMO.

I'm not saying that this rumor is in fact true here, but if it is indeed correct, then how bad is this for team morale?

Surely the club is guilty of reneging in rewarding the players for their performances are they not?

I always believed that clauses like these in contracts were to act as an incentive to players and their performances and not to hold them back due solely to the fact that the club is having to pay extra money to them that they were rightly entitled to when signing thus contract?

I hope that these players have been left out for other reasons, for our clubs sake

Both Clarkson and Biff should be in our 17 each game on current form this season IMO

I don't disagree with you, I think he is a good player I was just referring to earlier comments, and he seems to want to follow Sam.

Sorry, probably in a minority here but i don't get the stampede for Burgess. I think he is average at best and if he wants to go sun himself then thats fine by me.

Biff this, Biff that, Leulaui has been our best prop when fit this season by a mile.

Having said all that he is worthy of a place in the squad most weeks with some of the dross that is being picked. Just not the quality that everyone seems to think.

Only my opinion of course.

Most previous seasons might have agreed but for me he has made some good improvements this year and stood up when we were struggling for props. I like Kyle don't get me wrong but biff has far more to offer the club long term than Kyle has now. He is still only young.

Exactly Ferdy. For the same reasons we should be blooding other young forwards like Singleton on a regular basis.

Don't always agree but I do here think we should be blooding youngsters and I liked the look of singleton when I have seen him play,

Well we know they arnt win bonuses! Surley GH isn't that daft?

They should be in the 13 for mine