Maguire expects Burgess to return against Sea Eagles

Omnisports

March 23, 2016 9:10 AM

South Sydney Rabbitohs head coach Michael Maguire expects Sam Burgess to return to action next week.

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Burgess was taken off on a stretcher in just his third competitive appearance since returning to rugby league after clashing heads with Mike Cooper in the Rabbitohs' loss to St George Illawarra Dragons last Sunday.

Scans did not show any serious damage, however, and Burgess may start training again as early as Thursday.

South Sydney's Friday clash with Canterbury Bulldogs will come too soon for Burgess, but he could make his comeback for the trip to Brookvale Oval to face Manly Sea Eagles the following week.

"He's good, he came out of hospital yesterday and I think they kept him in there for a longer period just to make sure he was okay," Maguire said.

"We're looking forward to having him back at training tomorrow [Thursday] or the next day and he can start building towards the next game."

Asked what mental impact the episode could have on Burgess, Maguire said: "It's hard to say. There's a lot of talk about it and we're talking about it now, but Sam will manage it the way he does every other bump that you get in rugby league.

"It's a tough game and the boys are aware that they've got to prepare themselves. That's what we'll be doing when we move onto the next game where he'll be playing."

Maguire also suggested Burgess' habit of ducking his head as he attacks the line was something he picked up in his spell in rugby union.

"It might be a bit of a rugby union skill he picked up," Maguire said.

"It's one of those things that happens very quickly and there was an impact you don't see very often in that position. I'm sure Sam will do a lot of work around that."

Omnisports

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