Just weeks after big brother Sam returned to Rugby League, could Thomas Burgess be on the way out of the sport and heading for his own code swap?
Burgess reportedly underwent tryouts with NFL heavyweights New York Giants on Thursday, with a club official confirming to TotalRL.com that the 23-year-old was at the club’s tryouts.
The Giants host weekly tryouts so players trialling mid-season is nothing out of the ordinary, but Burgess being a huge rugby star obviously makes it a story of major significance.
Burgess only recently signed a new deal with South Sydney through to 2018, but this tryout throws new doubt on his future in Rugby League.
Rumours had linked Burgess with a move to the NFL earlier this year, even admitting he would like to try it in the future.
“I have shown interest in NFL for a while and I’d spoken to a few of my friends about how I’d love to go there [but] somehow it’s been turned into I’ve got a contract out there, and that’s why I’ve signed for one year with Souths,” Burgess said in May.
“That’s not the case, there’s nothing there yet and I’ve not spoken to anyone. It is something I definitely wouldn’t turn my nose up at, I’d look into it but there’s nothing there currently.
“That one year was just because I’m still young and I’d like to think I’m still growing as a player. I can’t estimate where I’m going to be at in one year really.”
