The journos across the pond are right to big him up. They can put all the pressure on the lad they want, he will come good. I agree, it is over the top, but what can you do? All Sam can do is play his normal game, and earn the plaudits the Aussie journo's are bestowing on him.

This is a little strong on the nose and perhaps you're buying in to the hype being created. This is what I am talking about, the expectations placed on a kid with one game under his belt at NRL level is "apparently" better than some week in, week out proven performers at the NRL and representative level. I don't think so. Sam joins any conversation for talking about the best forward in the game - based on reputation. He won't take any such mantle until he proves to all that he can deliver in the NRL competition week to week.

Many English imports have come to Australia with loft reputations and many have left with their tale between their legs. I am not saying this will be Sam Burgess, but I am saying 'proceed with caution' before you start putting him a top the mountain that he is yet to climb.

Yea, that must be it!

If the likes of Sandow and Luke had shown up yesterday, Sam's job would have been made a whole lot easier.

But hey, 80 minutes of solid rugby and your ready to send him back home already . You must be more scared than I thought

Sammy B is in Australia for a couple of reasons.

The main one is to increase revenue for Russell Crowes club. Russell Crowe is a smart cookie (for a kiwi) What better way to get people interested in your club than to sign a bloke who has been 'bigged up' (I hate that expression) to be to Rugby League what Jesus was to feeding lots of people with a few fish?

The second reason is to try and improve British players. The NRL has a duty to try and improve the international game. The only way to do that is to give players from developing Rugby league nations a run in the best competition in the world.

People need to think outside the box a little bit for once.

Key word: earn.

Apart from the All Stars game, there is nothing suggesting he is THE standout forward in the world at the moment. He will earn that title if he can produce consistently in the NRL for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. I think he will live up to the plaudits, I just choose to give him a chance to settle in to the weekly grind before I start heralding him the second coming of Adrian Morley and the like.

Ive no need to proceed with caution, and neither has any other Englishman who wants to see Sam do well. And I don't need to buy into hype created by 10 a penny Aussie journos. Im quite capable of forming my own opinion on Burgess.

Its not a case of putting the kid at the top of the mountain either. He will do that all by himself

Whats with the Blues avatar? Do you actually even know who the NSW blues are?

Oh please, duty to improve the international game. If the Aussies had it their way, there would be one side in the world, and thats themselves. They couldnt give two s about the international game. If Australian RL acknowledged that their was another RL competition across the pond, then maybe the International game might fair a bit better.

Prime example; Early this morning when I was watching the Titans and Warriors, the commentator mentioned that Greg Bird had been out of the game for 12 months. Now you see, thats funny that, because I swear I saw him playing for Catalans last year.

I agree with you on the Crowe dynamic. Burgess will put bums on seats, and sell shirts. But the overall picture is that Souths have signed Burgess because they recognize that he is a quality player, and will get even better playing in the worlds best RL comp every week!

NRL doing a duty to the international game. Give me a friggin break Barry

Well it certainly seems that way....think about it whay else would you come on an Englisg board and slag off the only English player on the field?? As he was Souths top metre gainer and tackler surely you could have slagged off Asotasi/Taylor/Pettybourne....hell anyone else in the Souths pack??!!

Or just left it at Todd Carney was great?

It's like me going on a Aussie soccer forum and going 'Tim Cahill is crap' everytime he doesn't score a goal?? Not big or clever.

Yea, they play in the Aussie soccer league don't they! I love them I do...

Barry, straying off topic to have a dig at some 'pom' whom he assumes looked up NSW on a map once, because of his avatar.

Must try harder

The violins are coming out ... done with the thread. I believe your English bias is now showing old_faithful. Just my opinion. Take the blinkers off.

The Super League will continue to remain the 'Poor Man's NRL' if only because they:

1. Continue to stockpile teams with Australian players and'

2. Neglect their own junior development.

But that's another thread.

All in all, Sam Burgess has to prove himself in the NRL before he can wear any such mantle bestowed upon him by hack journo's or passionate English fans. It's just how it is and how it should be. Burgess made a solid start, nothing out of the ordinary as per his job description, and I believe he will justify some of that hype in 2010. Time will tell. I wish him well.

The 2000 World cup lost a fortune. So much so they didnt even bother having another one until 2008. And that one (organised by Australia) made a fortune.

International Rugby League can be a real money spinner.

Its a given that there are only really 3 main competitive RL playing nations. Aus, NZ and England.

Despite England being one of the worst sides I've ever seen in the last world cup the poms came out in their droves. They spent money. They stayed in hotels. They bought souvenirs.

It's in everyones interests to have a strong (or at least one that LOOKS strong) England side playing international footy. It makes money.

If the NRL need to sign players like Burgess and Eliss to help out then although I don't agree with it, I can understand the logic.

You have got a NSW Blues jumper too havent you??





now now. You KNOW Barry McKenzies opinions on Poms and NRL footy jumpers

I've got one too, pretty mean, $40 from canterbury in Sydney....good for training too.

Just a quick one...I think part of the success of the WC was the fact the ARL got the right sponsors as much as it was crowds....I mean even with less crowds in the UK we pay a lot more for our seats.

They did well to get holiday inn and jetstar as a part of it all....so I'm guessing to put the teams up and fly internally in Oz was next to nothing, probably saved a small fortune there? Can't imagine that we could get such sponsors here as it's not high profile enough....maybe Jet2 as a northern budget airline (but their average fleet age is 20+ years and a bit minging!)?

Yea, It's an integral part of my NSW shrine. At the moment, my life sized cut out of Chief Harragon is wearing it.

Ive got an NRL jumper for every day of the week. I chose not to buy the indigenous jersey though, it just clashes with EVERYTHING!

You see, your implying that the NRL bring these players in to 'help' the English team. But you and I know thats not true is it...

The NRL sides bring these players in because they are quality, and will significantly add to their squad.

Real Australians never call Russell Crowe a kiwi.

Please try harder Englander.

FWIW I thought Burgess did OK but he must improve his ball security - he lost it cold at least three times.

The Rabbits' problems started and ended in their backs. Sandow played as though he'd never met any of his teammates, let alone played with them, and Sutton was absolutely anonymous. There was zero fluidity or sense of a game plan in any set of six as far as I could tell, and the last tackle options were very poor for virtually the whole game - high kicks to the wing rather than Carney, long-range grubbers that no one chased etc etc. It was in fact rather like watching England play last year.

The crazy thing is that if the Rabbits had threats elsewhere on the park Burgess could make absolute mayhem. When he (and Dave Taylor) are seemingly expected to not just make yards but almost be the main focus of the attack, then they are going to be very easily nullified as a team.

We carved them down tulz's wing a lot from memory.

I thought Burgess was pretty good in a well beaten team.

I'd have him at the Tigers in a heartbeat. I wouldn't have Carney though, the kid has to have 2-3 years without his usual off-field rubbish to make up for his past.

Having said that, Carney was terrific in this game.

He's a prop, what exactly did you expect him to be doing?

He led the stats, can't ask for much more than that.

He played at Lock.

Lets be honest, the bunnies let him off the hook, a guy playing his first game for ages, in a strange position and they didn't put him under pressure with a high ball.

True, but Carney could only beat what was in front of him. I think this weekend will be a sterner test, Farah on his own has a better kicking game than Souths.

Barry McKenzie, barman who makes out he's a banker!!! - swop the B for a "W" and you have a a pretty close description