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South Sydney have fired up their feud with the Sydney Roosters ahead of the round three game after asking the NRL why their bitter rivals weren’t sanctioned over their handling of the James Tedesco ‘Squid Games’ affair.
The Rabbitohs were fined by the NRL last week as part of the Sam Burgess sanctionsafter head office found they did not report an incident in a timely fashion.
Souths were wary of double standards and reached out to the NRL for some clarity around the Tedesco matter earlier this week.
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The Roosters initially conducted their own investigation into the Tedesco allegations and released a statement saying their captain had done nothing wrong. Nothing to see here apparently.
The matter was also referred to the integrity unit and it was only when the NRL got involved that the truth was set free.
James Tedesco was fined $10,000 by the NRL over the ‘Squid Games’ affair. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty ImagesHead office subsequently slugged Tedesco with a $10,000 fine, although the Roosters themselves were not part of the NRL sanctioning.
The Rabbitohs wanted to know why and they got their answer on Thursday when the NRL informed Souths that the Roosters had in fact referred the matter to the integrity unit in a prompt manner.
Revelations of Souths’ approach to the NRL only adds to the tension between the two clubs.
BURGESS BACK IN BURROW FOR SPECIAL TRIBUTE
Sam Burgess has made a surprise return to South Sydney training to present Cameron Murray
with his jersey before his first game as captain.
Burgess, only last week cleared by the NRL to make his return to the game in an official capacity, made a short speech in which he spoke about his first meeting with Murray and the mental strength of the Rabbitohs new leader.
The pair then embraced as Burgess presented Murray with his jersey ahead of their season opener against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
“With you, I found the most powerful leadership is doing,” Burgess said. “What you do, you can ask others to do. It is a hard, lonely place at times … but it is a rewarding place too.
“I’m always there for you. It is your time, man. Take over.”
Sam Burgess presents new Souths skipper Cam Murray with his playing jersey. Picture: InstagramBurgess was one of the most inspirational leaders in Rabbitohs’ history and there is every chance he will return to the club in an official capacity when he has finished his commitments in bush footy with the Orara Valley Axemen later this year.
The NRL only last week handed Burgess a fine and retrospective ban over a series of off-field incidents towards the end of his time at the club. Significantly, they made it clear that there was nothing to prevent him returning to the game in an official capacity.
“He came in and presented Cam his first captain’s jersey and as Sam does, spoke really well,” Souths coach Jason Demetriou said.
“I am a big fan of what Sam has done at this club, especially as a player and I know how respected he is in the change rooms and the boys loved seeing him there today.
“He has loved it. As a player when he was here, he never asked anyone to do anything that he wasn’t prepared to do himself.
“I know how much Cam respects him and I know how much it mean to them having that jersey presented today.”
Asked whether Burgess would have an official role at some point with the club, Demetriou said: “Not this year. He is pretty heavy in what he is doing up there.
“It is great for Sam’s development as a coach – to get out and coach your own team and run your own club is the best pathway you can have.
“Assistant coaching is great and you learn lot, but it is not head coaching.”
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