By Dan Cancian For Daily Mail Australia
12:32 17 May 2023, updated 13:54 17 May 2023
George Burgess is back in rugby league and remains intent to make an NRL comeback after signing for Cairns Brothers.
The 31-year-old played 149 games for South Sydney and won the premiership with the Rabbitohs in 2014 alongside his brothers Sam and Tom, as well as 15 caps for England.
Burgess made just 12 competitive appearances over the last three seasons with Wigan in the English Super League and St George Illawarra, before being cut by the Dragons in October last year.
He stepped away from the game amid a combination of injuries and personal issues, which included a charge of sexual touching without consent and a stint in rehab.
After six months away from rugby league, however, Burgess admitted he felt the time was right to make a come back, as Daily Mail Australia revealed this week.
‘I’d been back around South Sydney doing the corporate game day stuff and I was seeing the energy again, and I felt that it might be time to get back around a footy club,’ he told News Corp after his unveiling in Cairns on Wednesday.
‘I didn’t want to disrespect the NRL again by going in underdone.’
The powerhouse prop has joined Brothers, the defending champions of the Far North Queensland Rugby League after ending a 10-year wait for a premiership last season, as part of an agreement that will see him working in the community.
‘We wanted to bring a marquee player, but not just for the on-field stuff,’ said Brothers head of football Tim Rumford.
‘We wanted to bring someone who could bring a professional attitude, help our players in terms of raising the standards and lead by example.
‘George impressed me with the way he spoke about his desire, his will to succeed and kick on for the next part of his footy and off-field life as well.’
The former South Sydney star was charged in March 2022 after a woman claimed Burgess ‘touched her bottom’ without her consent.
His lawyer Bryan Wrench later entered a plea of not guilty on Burgess’s behalf and told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that there was ‘significant dispute’ over what had happened.
The matter has been adjourned until October.
Soon after the initial claim was filed, Burgess entered a mental health facility for treatment for depression and gambling with friends and family rallying around the star.
A friend close to the veteran forward told Daily Mail Australia that George wanted to ‘get on top’ of his personal issues after several months struggling with injury recovery and doubts surrounding his playing future.
Burgess is the latest high-profile addition to the FNQRL’s ever-growing list of former NRL stars.
Former Cowboys prop Scott Bolton is playing for Atherton, while former Blues Origin star is playing for Ivanhoes and 2012 Dally M Medal winner Ben Barba has been in scintillating form for Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks.