Rabbitohs captain Sam Burgess will undergo shoulder surgery in the coming days, following his side's clash with Newcastle on Friday night.

Burgess is expected to miss the next two games following the Knights clash, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The 30-year old was playing through the injury for some time, with the decision to under the knife made easier by the upcoming bye rounds.

The Englishman is targeting a return in round 17 against Manly, however, had a long-term outlook.

"By doing it at this time there will be less effect on the team,'' Burgess told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Obviously I don't want to miss games but I've realised I can't carry it the rest of the year.

"I can't do my job effectively. I'll get it fixed now, it's perfect, there are two byes, I'll miss a couple of games, there will be five weeks recovery time, and hopefully that's enough to get back and be fit enough and strong enough to do my job.

"I've already had two reconstructions in this shoulder. It's what you'd call a 'flush out' – it needs to be done.

"If it's round 22, I'm not getting it done. But we're in round 12. I can't carry it, I'm in too much pain every day. I can't train, I can't do anything, I need to get it fixed. I'm missing tackles on it. If I get it down now it's a good opportunity, make a smart decision and hopefully we get the benefits at the back end of the year.''

The Bunnies' forward added that the injury did not affect him during games but was wearing him down afterwards, causing him to miss training on Monday.

"I feel like I have been holding up all right in the games but it is just the aftermath, the training."

Burgess defended his earlier comments made towards suspended Raider Hudson Young for eye gouging Bulldog Aiden Tolman.

The Souths enforcer said he did not intend to paint Young in a bad picture.

"That is the last thing I want. In fact, I am almost supportive of Hudson Young, I think he is a great little player,'' he said.

"If you have a really good look at my comments, there is no way I am trying to put him in the firing line.

"I think he [Furner] was upset that I had said he had done it to me a couple of weeks ago, which he had done. They didn’t pick it up because I got up and played the ball. He pressed his knuckle on my face which started the whole thing between me and him. That is cool, I don’t mind that.

"Three weeks prior, me and him had a good battle [in Canberra]. Of course they [the panel] are going to ask me about it. I was asked a question. You could see in plain daylight something happened. I made what I believe was a fair comment.

"It was just inexperience, being a bit silly, excitement of playing first grade, he wants to assert himself.''

8 COMMENTS

  2. Hey Russ, some facts here buddy.

    I played with Rocky Laurie , juniors , but know him, Easts gave him a used by date and offered him nothing to stay with them, typical Easts, anyway he signed with Souths and excelled cause he felt the love.

    Your cover has an Easts supporter has been blown for a while now, so why the charade? You claim your mate Woody is dead, so why you still here?

  5. I’m not sure about that; Clive Churchill and Ron Coote, just to mention two, were pretty handy. But, just my opinion, Sam is the best Pommie ever to play NRL in my time (say 1966 onwards). Reilly had more brilliance but week in – week out, Sam’s my man.

  6. Easts letting Rocky Laurie go was a brilliant move wasn’t it? He won the Dally M at Souths in 1980 after leaving Easts and almost single-handedly got Souths into the semis that year but they got knocked off by Saints in the first week.

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