If the recent past is anything to go by the longer he stays in union the less likely it is that he will be able to cut it in top level RL - conditioning in RU appears very different to that in RL and has a serious adverse impact on the ability of players returning to RL to be able to hit the standard they were at prior to leaving

"He's not a quitter".....he quit on Souths.

Utter nonsense, yes he left Souths before his contract was up but that is not what most people would mean by quitting.
His last game for Souths - when he knew he was leaving for RU - he played for nearly the entire game with a broken cheek bone winning them the Grand Final with a MOM performance.
Hardly quitting.

You miss the point.

The context of quitting because you are not considered good enough and are therefore running away with your tail between your legs is quite a different proposition to moving from one sport to another when at the height of your form and reputation and having proven to everyone you are the top man in that sport. The latter is to be admired for seeking a new challenge and actually achieving International selection in so short a time. The former is defeat and a stain on your reputation.

Can you see the difference?

No because you're basing it on him achieving success in his last RL game. He signed his Bath contract nearly 12 months before. Had Souths failed to win the GF last year people would say different of him.

I am not basing anything on his achieving success in his last RL game at all. He had played for his country for several years and had become a big star

He was named International Rugby League Player of the Year 2014 for his achievements for the whole year ending October 2014 and the first Englishman to win this award.

“Sam was wonderful for England in the World Cup last year and his performances for South Sydney through the NRL season were first-class, all the way to his Clive Churchill Medal effort in the grand final against Canterbury-Bankstown,” the RLIF chairman, Nigel Wood, said. “He is a worthy recipient and deserves to be recognised for his achievements over the past year on the international stage as well as in the NRL competition.”

Burgess held off strong competition from fellow nominees including fellow Englishman James Graham, and Australian stars Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne" quote from the Guardian.

His move to Bath was announced in Feb 2014 not Oct 2013.

However you still have not addressed the two quite different context of the term "quitting" that I explained. Can you not see the significance of each?

Why are going on about his showings for England RL? Do you think Souths fans gave a damn about them when he announced he was going? When it was announced he was leaving for Bath do you not think they felt he was quitting on the club before they'd achieved success.

he didn't quit he moved on to bigger and better things

He went for a bigger and better bank balance.

You are being a little obtuse. I cannot believe you do not understand that the term 'a quitter' (as in one who gives up easily) is quite different from 'to quit' (as in to leave)

Also when Burgess announced (in Feb 2104) he was going to start with Bath at the end of his 4 year contract (end of season) he was not running away or giving up easily. In fact he explained he was starting a new chapter in his career and wanted the challenge of learning to play the other code and to try and play on the big international stage and no doubt secure his future earnings too.

I made the point that at the time he was a big star and the key player both for his club and country. He went on to lead his club to the championship and earn the international player of the year award which rather proves he is not a quitter in the context I used. I do not believe that the South's fans think he is a quitter either.

.....and bigger and better international stage in the World Cup.

Yep and he won't be seeing international stage again in RU.

Let's be honest he didn't earn his selection and even he'll know that.

I just heard on the radio that burgess has already had talks with a senior official within the English rugby league, with a view to him returning to RL. It didn't say which club, but it did say he would be making a decision very soon as to whether he will be returning to super-league or not.

Yes I heard the same on talk sport said he would be deciding in the next few days after speaking to England RL officials

Hope we sign him, would give us even more strength in depth and more publicity

Sounds like a return to RL is in play as an option. I can't see us or any other SL team managing to sign him long term, but even a year or two would be great.

Not sure why he would need to be in discussions with the RFL, unless the idea is that the RFL are going to buy out his Bath contract then leave him free to agree a deal with whichever club he wants?

Wow. The grievances expressed by fans of clubs he doesn't sign for will be something to behold.

Can't wait

Imagine the outpouring on here if he signed for Wigan, Saints, Huds or Wire supported by RFL ££££

Rightly so IMO RFL shouldn't be doing that. I imagine there would be a few on here as well if RFL bought out his contract for one of our rivals to get him

Burgess not sticking with RU??? Who could've predicted that.

Fully agree. I'd phrased it to include ourselves.

I can't remember rightly, but didn't they assist with Tomkins in some way. Not this time but before?

I also have a similar recollection - some sort of 'ambassador' role, linked in with Sky too, hence why he was doing so much with them in his last season.

breaking news: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34662659

breaking news: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34662659