Andrew Webster of the SMH - Souths PR campaign to save Burgess

[player 1]

I appreciate that SOME (without naming names) are being objective about this and it’s admirable. I too like to be objective on matters like this BUT the real story is of a young woman, regardless of what her motives were, contacting a high profile player who is lauded by the sport for being tough and a good player AND a family man, and if this woman HAS coerced him into sharing nude pics, what does that say about him? OR did some use his mobile to send these pics, why are these players letting Sam take all the heat? From where I seat, Sam is very much a participant in this issue. Whether it was consensual or not, it doesn’t matter because him as a married man with a child and one on the way SHOULD have had the foresight to think about his family, at the very least, and not follow through with the chat. That’s the real story. To try and find dirt on this woman is playing the role of the victim. Unless other players fess up, then Sam Burgess is very much guilty of letting his tackle do the talking. That’s the truth!

Fantastic post Roc, in all sincerity that sums it up.

we shouldn't be hoping he's suspended (which by the NRL's previous standards he undoubtedly should - but won't).

w need to play their full strength side with our corruptly suspended under strength side and hand them a hiding.

his legal team have clearly been firing terrifying threats at any dissenting voices in the media. It only makes me laugh. Souffs must be terrified of us.

[Mickie Lane]

The win for the Roosters will be so much sweeter beating Souths at full strength in the last ever game at the SFS.
Go you MIGHTY ROOSTERS.

[Lydon]

Michael Ennis is a tool. In fact, id say he is Fox Sports' worst

He is an A Grade toss,tries to create drama with his comments..

[mattyh]

ive just read the article , i actually thought it was fairly balanced tbh, for what its worth whoever the player is deserves to be suspended given previous scandals, i hate to compare it to the pearce scandal as they are both very different. me personally i am not bothered one bit, but the nrl has set their own benchmark here and have to be consistent.

[Mickie Lane]

Well he could have said ‘he left his phone around’ but his vagueness gives the perception that he, Sam was involved in this.

I didnt ask what he could have said I asked what did he say the mistake was?
Im not into perception Im into facts.

[Thirteen]

ive just read the article , i actually thought it was fairly balanced tbh, for what its worth whoever the player is deserves to be suspended given previous scandals, i hate to compare it to the pearce scandal as they are both very different. me personally i am not bothered one bit, but the nrl has set their own benchmark here and have to be consistent.

If I was forced to see Sam Burgess’ tackle I’d be very bothered.

[ROC181]

Fantastic post Roc, in all sincerity that sums it up.

we shouldn't be hoping he's suspended (which by the NRL's previous standards he undoubtedly should - but won't).

w need to play their full strength side with our corruptly suspended under strength side and hand them a hiding.

his legal team have clearly been firing terrifying threats at any dissenting voices in the media. It only makes me laugh. Souffs must be terrified of us.

Thanks Playa! And here’s my follow up!

Those idiots that are claiming that this is a setup by our club...Hello! This happened in May and she contacted Souths early June and a few times after that. Did Nick and co hire Nostradamus to predict that we were going to meet this mob now so that we could bring it up at this stage? Hardly! These burgesses, (a euphemism for tackle) are worming their way out of the real truth!

[QWERTY]

If I was forced to see Sam Burgess’ tackle I’d be very bothered.

Im just hoping us Roosters fans that go boo him at every chance. Also, the notion this event was stitched up by the Roosters is preposterous. Just seems like a meaningless accusation thrown out into the open to deflect the criticism of Big ol Sammy and his souffs, especially since this apparently occurred in May

[RoosterFanNZ]

Im just hoping us Roosters fans that go boo him at every chance. Also, the notion this event was stitched up by the Roosters is preposterous. Just seems like a meaningless accusation thrown out into the open to deflect the criticism of Big ol Sammy and his souffs, especially since this apparently occurred in May

uncle nicks been playing the long game

[ROC181]

I didnt ask what he could have said I asked what did he say the mistake was?
Im not into perception Im into facts.

The facts are there, his account and some say his watch and if this wasn't him or any other player, meaning that some outside source could have hacked his account, then he should say so but the silence is deafening probably because his legal team have advised him to stay shut while they're are trying to find some loop holes to get him off. Now you can be like the souths fans all digging their head in the sand because it's their player, and he may get off on a technicality, but everything points to him. He 'made a mistake, Tom said so!

[4 the all in brawl]

There is a claim this was a consensual video chat.

This woman has alleged she was repulsed and hung up immediately.

If this was true, how did she take multiple screenshots?

There is also a screendump inclusive of a woman partly naked. from the chat. which suggests this may well have been consensual.

There is no screenshot of any players face at any time in any photo, making it impossible to identify the alleged flasher.

IF Burgess did this it is totally the wrong thing to do for a married man, no debate about that, and Phoebe must be feeling betrayed.

However that is nothing to do with anyone apart from the couple involved.

I am not defending him as I don't know the facts, none of us do.

What I do know is there is always two sides to a story, and based on the actual evidence it would be very hard for the NRL to suspend him without facing a potential legal mine field.
If his face was in the pics, different scenario.

Sam has already employed two of Sydney's best defamation lawyers who are looking into all media articles, social media and rugby league forums.

There will be more to come.

Welcome to the Chookpen Sammy boy....

[johnnysekret]

Ok so if he ‘left’ his phone laying around and one of the other players picked it up, these guys are letting Sam be thrown under the bus plus endangering his marriage? Nice mates!

Who said it was a player? We are not aware of who was around at the time.

[johnnysekret]

Sorry. I didn't mean to say they used steroids. I meant that they looked like they use steroids. Especially their shrunken genitalia.

Shrunken genitalia? You've obviously never seen the selfie of George. Some horses are known to be jealous.

[johnnysekret]

I appreciate that SOME (without naming names) are being objective about this and it’s admirable. I too like to be objective on matters like this BUT the real story is of a young woman, regardless of what her motives were, contacting a high profile player who is lauded by the sport for being tough and a good player AND a family man, and if this woman HAS coerced him into sharing nude pics, what does that say about him? OR did some use his mobile to send these pics, why are these players letting Sam take all the heat? From where I seat, Sam is very much a participant in this issue. Whether it was consensual or not, it doesn’t matter because him as a married man with a child and one on the way SHOULD have had the foresight to think about his family, at the very least, and not follow through with the chat. That’s the real story. To try and find dirt on this woman is playing the role of the victim. Unless other players fess up, then Sam Burgess is very much guilty of letting his tackle do the talking. That’s the truth!

I agree with most of that, apart from two things.

Firstly people keep saying the player sent nude pics to this woman. This is not correct, nobody sent her anything.

It was a real time live chat that she admitted she agreed to, that's very different.

She also stated initially that she was so shocked and repulsed that she disconnected immediately.
If this is true, how did she take multiple screenshots? This is obviously a blatant lie from her.

There is something these days called revenge porn, this alleged victim may very well be facing a charge of revenge porn yet, more will come out in the next 48 hours.

If Sam did engage in this activity, to which at this stage there is not even a shred of proof, then yes, I'd agree it's the wrong thing to do and Phoebe must be hurting big time.

Thanks for your comments.

[johnnysekret]

ive just read the article , i actually thought it was fairly balanced tbh, for what its worth whoever the player is deserves to be suspended given previous scandals, i hate to compare it to the pearce scandal as they are both very different. me personally i am not bothered one bit, but the nrl has set their own benchmark here and have to be consistent.

I am sure if the NRL had a video of Sam in an obviously drunken state, refusing to leave a private property when asked, forcing a kiss on a woman and then tried to screw her dog that they would act immediately and ban him. That would be comparable to Pearce and showing consistency.

Sadly for those on a witch hunt there is no evidence available that identifies any Souths player as being involved in anything.

What we have so far is more similar to Konrad Hurrell with his sex tape in 2014 for which he received a $5,000.00 fine. However in Hurrell's case his face was in the video and he could be clearly identified, not so with the Burgess allegations.