Sam Burgess’ growing list of suspended games in the NRL has reached double figures after the South Sydney star accepted a two-match ban for his high hit on Canberra’s Aidan Sezer.
The Rabbitohs confirmed their English enforcer would accept the grade-two charge on Monday, meaning he will miss clashes with Brisbane and Newcastle over the next fortnight.
The decision means Burgess will be free to play St George Illawarra in three weeks’ time, a game he would have missed had he taken the case to the judiciary but failed to have it overturned.
The hit on Sezer, which sparked an all-in melee in Souths’ 20-point win over the Raiders on Saturday, came in Burgess’ return match from a two-week suspension for a dangerous contact charge on Canterbury’s Josh Morris.
Burgess is one of the most passionate players in the NRL, but there is no doubt he at times crosses the line.
Saturday’s charge was his fourth in his past seven games, and according to Fox Sports Stats the 12th guilty verdict or plea of his career overall.
Those recent offences are grossly counting against him in weighting and carryover points each time he is hit with even a minor charge.
In total, Burgess has now been suspended for 10 NRL matches since his first ban in 2012, with four careless high tackles marked against him as well as charges for a crusher tackle, chicken wing, genital grabbing and cannonball.
The suspension will come at a crucial time for the Rabbitohs, who appear to be hitting form and could have had a significant big-man advantage against the Broncos on Thursday night.
Meanwhile Souths have also confirmed Sam’s brother George has accepted a $1550 fine for a high tackle on Canberra’s Luke Bateman.
SAM BURGESS’ HORROR JUDICIARY RECORD
* Rd 21, 2010: Dangerous contact, head contact (grade two), early guilty plea – 1 week
* Rd 22, 2012: Careless high tackle (grade two), early guilty plea – 0 weeks
* Prelim final, 2012: Dangerous contact, leading with legs (grade one), early guilty plea – 1 week
* Rd 1, 2013: Careless high tackle (grade one), early guilty plea – 1 week
* Rd 11, 2013: Dangerous contact, head neck pressure (crusher) (grade one), guilty at panel – 1 week
* Rd 22, 2013: Contrary conduct, genital grabbing (grade one), early guilty plea – 2 weeks
* Rd 21, 2016: Dangerous contact, arm shoulder pressure (chicken wing) (grade one), early guilty plea – 0 weeks
* Rd 26, 2016: Tripping (grade one), early guilty plea – 0 weeks
* Rd 7, 2017: Shoulder charge (grade one), not guilty at panel
* Rd 25, 2017: Careless high tackle (grade one), early guilty plea – 0 weeks
* Rd 2, 2018: Dangerous contact, cannonball (grade one), early guilty plea – 0 weeks
* Rd 4, 2018: Dangerous contact, raised elbow (grade one), guilty at panel – 2 weeks
* Rd 7, 2018: Careless high tackle, (grade two), early guilty plea – 2 weeks
*Source: Fox Sports Stats