The NRL is expected to take up to a month to make a decision about Sam Burgess' $3 million salary cap fallout, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. 

South Sydney made an official application for a salary cap exemption for Burgess to auditor Richard Gardham on Wednesday, a few hours before they announced his retirement.

Burgess has a long injury history but a left shoulder condition is forcing him to retire. The club claims the problem "only became apparent earlier this year after routine surgery."

The English international still had three years remaining on his four-year contract worth more than $1 million per annum.

Greg Inglis also retired this season despite having years left on his contract but unlike him, Burgess wants his contractual commitments honoured.

Several clubs have suggested that the Rabbitohs should have to foot the bill through their salary cap which would restrict their chances of replacing the 30-year-old.

Burgess suffered a shoulder injury in round 5 against the Warriors and had surgery after round 13 and contracted an infection.

The salary cap auditor will consider three aspects before making a ruling on the salary cap exemption:

  1. “The Player, at the time of termination, was diagnosed as medically unfit to currently continue to train and play elite level contact sport and was medically unable to ever return to play elite level contact sport due to the current level of disability or the significant risk of further disabling injury as a result of playing elite level contract sport"
  2. "The Player, had no similar injury or medical condition to that area of the body that either has or could reasonably be predicted medically to lead to a degenerative condition of that area of the body prior to signing his last NRL contract or if the players contract was signed more than 24 months previous within the last 24 months unless an unrelated single event has resulted in rapid deterioration of this condition"
  3. "A single event that caused the injury could be identified."

Burgess has surgery on the same shoulder in 2018 before signing the new deal which could complicate claims that the condition is not pre-existing.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg spoke on the matter, "There’ll obviously be questions about what Sam’s retirement means for South Sydney’s 2020 salary cap and beyond."

"There are rules surrounding these matters and it’s important we take our time to work through the facts with South Sydney in a considered and methodical manner."

At an end-of-season gathering for the players Burgess gave no hint of retirement but his brother Tom said that the shoulder had been troubling him.

"He had a bit of pain and had that infection. From there something wasn’t right. Something happened,'' Tom said.

"It can get really bad, those infections. Something has happened to the shoulder. The doctors said they can’t do much for it. That’s the reality of it.''

39 COMMENTS

  2. bobfulton – I’m interested to know why have that opinion mate. If the guy can’t play in the team I don’t have a problem with the team being able to spend the money on someone who can. The cap is there to “try” to maintain a level playing field. Making them include him in the cap moving forward disadvantages his club. He will never be back.

  3. I’m not sure I understand.

    Burgess is (was) being paid $1M per season to play football. He can no longer play football so why do Souths need to pay him?

  4. Has any person out there ever heard of a bone eating infection????

    Total crappp story from Souths and Burgess the Facebook Flashing Grand Father threatening basher.

    The Roosters are light years ahead of Souths, it’s obvious to all the rabbits hirachey have been watching many science fiction movies trying to find imformation on how to catch the Roosters high standard of light years ahead coaching technology.

    But stumbled across this science fiction bone eating virus on the movies and are trying one of TwitOne infamous porky pies on the NRL so they can try and poach the Sydney Roosters super stars with Burgess money.

    Lets hope the NRL are awake up to this liar of an organisation Souths, who pulled a swifty over the Inglis salary cap twister.

  7. When Matai, and Stewart medically retired, Manly didn’t get a cent off their cap.
    Matai and Stewart’s case was way stronger than Burgess, Ingliss and Watmough.
    Where’s the consistency Greenburg?

  8. For those who aren’t aware. This is to stop clubs paying out ridiculous contracts for these players knowing full well they won’t be able to go or then.
    As this is clearly an old injury it’s an easy one he will be included in salary well if things are fair it will be, but they scammed the Inglis one so who knows. Everyone knows nrl has favourites and get away with a lot more then others

  9. I love that our whole family are souths members ile tell you why…

    Souths beat easts 14-12 in the first final in 1908 at birchgrove oval sydney…

    Souths are the oldest club in rugby league.

    Souths beat easts 3-2 in finals so far.

    Souths have the biggest membership in the nrl in rugby league in nsw…

    Easts have the 3rd lowest membership in the nrl in nsw in rugby league…

    Souths are coming 1st for premierships…

    Easts are on tied 2nd for premierships with the defunct club stgeorge dragons who no longer exist since 1999…

    Easts cant beat souths at anything not in the 1st final nor in premierships nor in memberships thats why easts are FOREVER IN SOUTHS SHADOW FACT…

  12. Since the introduction of colour TV in Australia … that’s 1975
    Easts have won 5 Premierships and 1 Wooden Spoon
    Souffs have won 1 Premiership and 5 Wooden Spoons
    Where’s the shadow SHADOW ?

  16. eels47, I don’t believe it was. Of course the Rabbitohs will receive an exemption. Wrong on all levels. Also, judging by the recent photos, looks like his injury isn’t to bad. He wouldn’t be able to pick up those ladies otherwise.

  17. Fair enough Panthers. I honestly can’t remember, but I do remember he had injury concerns throughout his career. He played through a lot of injury too.

  18. NRL you are a corrupt organisation if you let souths off from this one. Even North Korea isnt as corrupt as this mob.

  20. Guys, Guys, Guys. It’s very simple, if we can’t Sammy exempt from our future cap allowance, again it’s very simple, We get our chickens friends to come in and give us a few tips on cap management, coz as we all know – THEY MANAGE THEIR CAP BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE……….

  22. bobfulton – I see your point mate. eg I give a bloke like burgess a 3 years deal knowing that he’ll be lucky to see out half that and if he blows up half way I don’t carry that on my cap. Fair point.

    screamingeagle – I recon Manly should have been given cap relief for Matai.

  23. If a player retires through any kind of injury, them he can not fulfill his contract. Therefore the contract is void and no payment from Souths is required.

    So what is all the fuss about. The contract should be ripped up, Burgess is unable to deliver on his end of the agreement. However Crowe wants to pay him a cheque of 3.6 million? For a going away present.
    Why…?????????? Am I missing something here ????????

    If Souths pay the 3.6 million then it goes under the salary cap. Unless of coarse the case is like Greg Inglis, when he retired he did not seek the remaining money from his contract.

  26. Adamhoward, shouldn’t Sam’s contract with south’s be honoured as he was injured while doing his job getting bashed by the cooks?

  27. What has Souths got to do with the payment? Insurance companies cover for injury.
    For exampe if you are a supplier of beef to Woolies and have a 4yr contract. But due to the drought in your district your amount of beef you signed the contract for can not be meet after 1 yr. Then Woolies will end the contract and find some other supplier that can supply the agreed amount.

    The same scenario has occured with Burgess. He can no longer supply his services so the contract in this brutal game can not be fullfilled.

    If Burgess is insured then the matter has nothing to do with Souths or the salary cap. It is an issue between the insurance company and Burgess.

  28. Adam a comparison between players and beef is very comical if not a bit insulting.
    South’s and Sam would be insured ensuring he get’s paid, So it shouldn’t be include in the cap. Is that what you are implying.

  30. Yeah greggo,
    Obviously it isn’t good hey having to loose that kind of salary for 3 years, but it’s the risk they take with these players.
    And with a lot of contracts now just an amount and not as much as a per year thing, it’s stops things like paying him 200/year lat years and spending the rest on everyone else and then just topping the rest of the 3 mil when it’s not included.
    And yes manly should very much of been given salary relief for those 2 without a doubt

  31. DR BenCasey
    October 31, 2019 at 1:03 pm
    “Has any person out there ever heard of a bone eating infection????”

    Is that similar to the brain eating infection you suffer from?

  32. Thats ok Sidney, I get confused between TwitOne and Steve.Syd, see you have a new login Stephanie.

    Any way it has nothing to do with Souths, it is an issue between the insurance company and Burgess.

  33. I’m amazed at how Doctors and/or Lawyers post on this site.
    I’m neither so I don’t have access to Sam’s medical records, or that of any other players that did or didn’t get some form of cap. relief in the past, like so many others on this site obviously do.

  34. So why shouldn’t Souths be permitted to compete on an even playing field?
    With the sombreros around 3m over the cap based on media figures and now asking Souths to drop 1m a year that’s a margin of 4m advantage to the sombreros.
    Hardly fair in in anyone’s eyes.

  35. 21, if any part of your comment was aimed at me, I don’t have any issue with the Bunnies getting cap exemption (in whole or part).
    I don’t want clubs abusing it/making it a loophole, but I don’t think Souths have in this case (or G.I’s) so I lean toward cap exemption.
    Your comments on the Rooster however (around $3mil over the cap), really? Are they, because I don’t have that info either?

  36. Where’s Chalky?? He is the most decent Souths supporter on this site. The other 2 muppets are the reason why others in here spew the same crap about Souths each and every day.

    Shadow you need to piss off with your on repeat comments, your as annoying as Woody woodpecker. Your comments are exactly the same for every bloody story. Talk logic or bugger off

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