[url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_league/3979850/Salford-plans-to-sign-Josh-Veivers-and-Stuart-Howarth-fall-foul-of-red-tape.htmlBurgess in contract talks?[/url

"[iTOM BURGESS has opened talks with Bradford Bulls over a new contract.
The prop, 19, wants to end rumours he is going to South Sydney Rabbitohs where his three brothers are playing."[/i

TBF its from the sun, there is no quote, nothing to back it up, and I've copied and pasted the whole snippet above- so take it as you will. But if true its very good news and it would seem an odd rumour to make up for the sun if there was nothing in it....we'll see I guess, heres hoping.

[size=85Apologies mods if this has been posted elsewhere, but I've not seen it[/size.

My worry to some degree is that the story may be true in terms of asking to open contract talks. His agent who we all know well, may be advising him to request a rather silly amount for his stage of development and when the Bulls decline, it looks like we're just after the transfer fee from Souths.....rather than his agent wanting him to move on.....

Might just be me, but wouldn't be a major surprise and a way of unsettling a young lad, especially when half his family are on the other side of the world.

Hope I'm wrong and he just wants to end the Souths speculation though. He could be a very important player for us over the coming years.

Were that the case and I've no information either way, the club would have to publicly state they were no longer prepared to negotiate with Chris Caisley with regards to his representation of players as he they believe him to be in conflict of interest. For Tom Burgess to leave having publicly stated on a number of occasions he wants to stay would demand similar enquiry as that at HUll when young Briscoe went to Leeds. Some on here who have a relationship with the club clearly believe that CC is a malign influence on players owing to his long running, and now public feud with the current BOD. This is simply unacceptable.

On a positive note I think it would be a huge boost if he signed as he's already one of the most destructive props in the comp.

It would be a good bit of publicity for the club to get him signed to a long term deal.

But as others have said, there is a worry that it's a certain agent who's pushing for a nice big fee for himself that's in Tom's ear about asking for silly money that the club can't or won't pay to a player of his age and development.

Whilst I agree with that in principle, think there is a bit of a case to say Tom is worth slightly more than an equivalent player at same stage of development purely down to his name, which is a marketable asset for us. Burgess name is one that people who only have a passing interest in rugby are more likely to recognise due to Sams profile. that said dont think its worth a silly amount of money and hope this negotiation is in good faith and not just the start of his manager manouvering for a bidding war.

Its pretty much consistent with what he said on the Radio Leeds interview, that no negotiations were under way at that time but he would do his best for Bradford this season and see where things went. I would hope that it is the Bulls that have initiated it having discussed their plans and expectations for him this coming season. Winning the NRL is more important to the Souths than having four Burgesses playing for them, so its likely to be another team he moved onto whether there or here, and I get the impression that he is proud of his progress this last year and would see reserve football as a step backwards. Given that there are only four experienced props ahead of him (yes some will argue even less than that), the chances are that he is going to get opportunities again this season.

Very much agree with all of that.

I don't think there is any point in him going to Souths, there is simply no prospect of an opening for him there, unless a few have left. Of course there are lots of other clubs in the Sydney area and I wouldn't trust his agent as far as I could throw him. Agents may be OK for negotiating a contract but any career advice or future strategy should be treat with caution when coming from someone who has far too much self interest in the dealings to be impartial imo.

Got to say, from a Bulls' perspective, I hope he is contracted long term, maybe with some of the money tied into performance ie, first team games, rep appearances etc.

I think in this case we'd want any contract he has to be all up front salary. I suspect any performance related aspects wouldn't be taken into account in compensation from his new club should he leave early.

Don't think it saves you cap space either if I remember right.

Totally agree about agents though, more than the usual conflicts in this case but I do find it strange normally that people take advice from someone who's only incentive is a bigger cash deal and not really what's best for you.

I think Tom does have an eye on the long term. Sam and Luke played a lot in SL, George played for England Academy, he did not. He must have belief in his talents from last season, so his next step is to really consolidate on what he has done and get games on his CV, into the Knights or whatever. One thing is sure, he is going to do it his way, he doesnt want to play alongside his brothers because of a charitable act to complete the set, but because he is Tom Burgess, scourge of SL with a reputation that precedes him. and if we get a couple of years whilst he proves that, brilliant.

Need to sign him up for 4-5 years ASAP. And then not sell him as soon as somebody knocks on the door.

Well that's the kind of cynicism I usually go in for myself, so I know where you're coming from! Tom did say he wanted to make it here though and even if, in truth, he actually fancied going a little bit, I can understand why he would choose to remain here, away from the rest of the "burgess show" in Aussie.

Whilst remaining realistic, I hope he stays at Odsal and becomes a star in his own right, away from the pressure of the South Sydney goldfishbowl. I think his mother is still here, and undoubtedly she will have other family here too, so hopefully she'll stay, 'cos if she went it might be the writing on the wall, or at the very least one less reason for Tom to stay.

Don't get me wrong Bulliac, I think he wants to stay for the reasons you mention and I really hope he does. Club has to look after their own interests though and thats where I'm coming from with the contract. Long deal and the associated cost of buying him out of it would also put some clubs off going for him. If he has turned down an offer, then its a good way to reward him and show the club appreciates his potential.

With any luck the clubs prospects generally will improve over the next few seasons to the point where we become a much more attractive club and the temptation goes away. Then the rest of the Burgess clan can come crawling back!

Tommy needs to lose a few pounds if he is to cultivate the ripped physique of sibling Sammy and become our new poster boy. I reckon if Macca was still at the club he would have encouraged this as Macca liked his mobile forwards with ball-handling skills and bed-in in the back row and centres if needed.

Thats exactly what he said he was doing in the RLeeds interview, losing a few pounds during the offseason, so I dont think you will be disappointed. a diet of skerret and mcdermot videos wouldnt be a bad idea either!

Absolutely mate, couldn't agree more, it's just that....going back to an earlier post - I hope Tom has better council than someone who's hoping to make a killing from moving him on, cos somehow I can't imagine an agent being too keen on him being tied down for too long, no matter how good a deal it was for the player.