LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The shock departure of South Sydney's club legend Sam Burgess has caused a stir in the NRL world, with former player Benny Elias condemning the situation as "disgusting" and "insulting".
Burgess has left his role as assistant coach at the Bunnies immediately, despite there still being two games to go in the regular season.
In an attempt to address the situation, Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly and coach Jason Demetriou held a press conference to explain the reasons behind Burgess' sudden exit.
They cited Burgess' future move to Warrington in 2024, where he will become head coach, as well as the impending birth of his baby with partner Lucy Graham as the main factors behind his departure.
South Sydney vehemently denied any claims of a falling out between Burgess and Demetriou, as well as reports suggesting that Burgess was unhappy with preferential treatment given to star players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
However, widespread reports indicated that Burgess and fellow assistant John Morris were displeased with the alleged special treatment of Mitchell and Walker during training sessions.
During a discussion on NRL 360, Fox League's James Hooper criticized South Sydney's explanation for Burgess' departure, labeling it as "smoke and mirrors".
Hooper confirmed reports that club owner Russell Crowe had joined a phone call between club officials in an attempt to resolve the situation, but allegedly hung up on Burgess when no compromise could be reached.
Hooper also revealed that there had been a significant fallout between Burgess and Demetriou over the past few months, which culminated in an emergency meeting involving club management and players.
By 8am, Burgess had already been shown the door, indicating that their differences could not be resolved.
The backlash to Burgess' axing has been intense, with many expressing their shock and disappointment at the way the situation has been handled.
The details surrounding his departure continue to raise eyebrows within the NRL community, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the true reasons behind the decision.