Burgess set to return for Souths against Gold Coast

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has revealed that Sam Burgess will probably make his return to rugby league action on February 20, in the pre-season friendly against Gold Coast Titans.

That game is set to take place at Pizzey Park, a small ground on the Gold Coast. Burgess will miss the NRL All Stars game and the Charity Shield, where Souths take on St George Illawarra.

“It will more than likely be the Gold Coast trial,” Maguire told Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph.

“Just with where his body is at, I have some great staff who have all the data on him before he left us to where he is now, he’s in great shape, but obviously to play our game you need to make sure your body is right.

“He’s coming off a massive break. He’s had a good break now. Sam and ‘GI’ (Greg Inglis) have both had good breaks, they’re fresh and bouncing around at training, and we need to utilise that going into the season.”

Burgess recently got married, and has been training with the Rabbitohs’ squad since the beginning of January, after returning from an ill-fated spell in rugby union.