Ex-Wigan Warriors prop George Burgess’ surprising deal revealed after admission into rehab

Former Wigan Warriors prop George Burgess is currently in rehab for the treatment of a gambling addiction.

It’s all gone rather awry for Burgess in recent years.

After joining Wigan on a marquee contract ahead of the 2020 Super League season, the hulking forward made just eight appearances for the Lancashire club before a mixture of Covid-19 and a severe hip injury cut his time short at the DW Stadium.

Intense surgery followed and in 2022 he became the first rugby league player to make a comeback from that horrendous hip problem, signing for the St George Illawarra Dragons.

If you were thinking that Burgess would have had a major wage, think again – the Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Burgess signed a $120,000 deal which equates to just under £70,000 a year in British money.

Burgess has played four NRL games and nine reserve grade games for the club this season, but his last game came in Round 15, in June, when he played in the New South Wales Cup after falling out fo favour with head coach Anthony Griffin.

Not only has the 29-year-old been in rehab for the past month in a bid to get over a gambling addiction, Burgess has also been embroiled in a police investigation following claims of ‘sexual touching’ and is still at the centre of that issue.

“Earlier this month officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation into reports a woman was sexually touched by a man known to her on Tuesday 8th March,” NSW Police said in a statement back in March.

“Those inquiries are continuing.”

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that family members had been urging him to seek help for at least a year.

A source close to the Burgess family was keen to stress that George is doing everything possible to do what is right by him and his family.

“It has been a very tough road for him and feeling that pressure is harder when you have a young family,” a source close to the Burgess’ told the Daily Mail.

“Luke is doing well and has managed his investments. Sam is working through his personal issues and will probably be the assistant at Souths next year.

“Tom has managed to remain virtually injury-free his entire career.

“So it has been tough pill for George to swallow. But he is willing to do the work now.

“He knows he has to do that.”