Burgess among Rabbitohs leaders

Sam Burgess has been named as one of five ‘captains’ to lead South Sydney in the upcoming NRL season.

Burgess, along with Michael Crocker, Roy Asotasi, Matt King and John Sutton, will form part of a leadership group named by coach Michael Maguire.

“One of these players will be appointed each game to toss the coin and speak with the referees, but on every other aspect of the team we operate as an entire group with these five players making up our captaincy,” explained Maguire.

“It’s a strong leadership model that everyone has bought into at the Club. I’ve experienced it at Wigan, and I’ve seen it work successfully at other Clubs and in other sports as well.”

Burgess, who did not feature in the Rabbitohs’ pre-season trial with Warrington at the weekend, is entering his third season in the NRL.

He missed much of last season with shoulder and ankle injuries, with the latter ruling him out of England‘s Four Nations series.