SOUTH Sydney Rabbitohs star George Burgess has been banned for two games and fined $10,000 after being charged over a smashed car window in Cairns.

Souths will impose the sanctions after jointly determining the appropriate penalty with the NRL.

Burgess will also pay for the cost of the damage, undergo an anger management program and commit to a further 50 hours (in addition to his existing commitments) of community support work through Souths Cares.

Burgess has been charged with two counts of wilful damage to property by Queensland police.



“George accepts he’s done the wrong thing and that there has to be a price,” Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson said today.

“For someone on his contract level it is a big price to pay and he still has to deal with the issue in court.

“We will support him because he has faced up to what he has done and because this isn’t reflective of his general behaviour at the club.

“Everyone is going to have to get the message though that the NRL is going to stay strong on these issues and that the clubs will support that stance without exception.”



NRL boss Dave Smith said the game would not accept bad behaviour and that it supported the stance of the South Sydney club:

“The fans and the players want to see an end to it.

“It’s not about issuing warnings, it is about taking the appropriate action.”

Queensland police said a NSW man used a sign he found in the street to smash the rear window of a car.

The incident allegedly happened at Redlynch, in Cairns, about 2.45am (AEST) on Monday.

A statement released by Cairns police this morning revealed Burgess damaged the car after a "disagreement" with a resident of a unit complex.

The Rabbitohs were in Cairns for the round 14 NRL clash with the Gold Coast Titans at Barlow Park, which the Rabbitohs won.

Burgess has apologised in a statement issued by the Rabbitohs.

"I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Rabbitohs members, sponsors and everyone in the community," he said.

"I have let my team and my family down.

"I acknowledge that I am a role model for kids and I will do everything I can to restore my reputation through working harder in the community.

"It is my responsibility to ensure that this type of behaviour does not happen again.

"I will learn from my mistake and bounce back stronger and better as a person."

Origin star Ferguson charged

Burgess will front Cairns Magistrates Court on July 10.

Burgess, a front rower who was born in England, debuted for the Rabbitohs in 2012.

He is one of four brothers who are all signed to South Sydney, including his twin brother Thomas.

The incident comes after NSW State of Origin player Blake Ferguson was yesterday suspended from playing after being charged with indecent assault.

The 23-year-old Canberra Raiders winger is alleged to have groped a 23-year-old woman, who slapped him after the incident at a Cronulla bar on Sunday night.

