Tom Burgess confirms brother Luke will stay at Manly

Tom Burgess says his older brother Luke will remain at NRL side Manly next year.

The future of Luke Burgess at the Sea Eagles has been questioned after he was linked to a clear-out of 14 players at the Australian club earlier in the season.

Luke Burgess joined Manly from South Sydney on a two-year deal at the start of 2015.

The prop has another year to run on his contract at the Sea Eagles, but was reportedly keen on a potential code switch to Japanese rugby union.

In July the former Leeds forward told The Sydney Morning Herald “I’ve always liked the idea of maybe playing some rugby in Japan, that’s always seemed a pretty cool idea.”

But his brother Tom has confirmed his 28-year old sibling will be staying at Brookvale.

“That’s just rumour,” Tom Burgess said.

“He’s staying at Manly.”

Luke Burgess made 18 appearances for the Sea Eagles this year averaging 21 tackles, 41 run metres and three hit-ups per game.

Manly have endured a huge amount of change this season, with head coach Geoff Toovey axed, and 11 players, including Kiwi star Kieran Foran, departing.

Former Wigan half Trent Barrett has replaced Toovey as coach.

Tom Burgess’s South Sydney were unable to defend their 2014 title, knocked out in the first round of the NRL semi-finals.

“We’re definitely disappointed,” he said.

“If you look back at the season, we go through it with the review and stuff, you’ve just got to take positives out of it and move on from it I suppose.

“I don’t think we need to change much really. I’m sure the staff will work it out. They’ll change things if they need to but I don’t think there’s much to change to be honest.”

Burgess believes the competition within the NRL is getting tougher every year.

“It literally is anyone can win it,” he said.

“It just shows how close the teams were from the top eight to those that didn’t make it. Manly didn’t even make it this year and they’re a quality team.

“It is really tight and literally anyone can win it.”