The Tom Burgess pep talk that lifted South Sydney Rabbitohs out of a hole after winless start to the season

The Rabbitohs won their first game of the year against the Bulldogs on Friday, and for up-and-coming forward Tallis Duncan, Burgess’ words of wisdom gave him the reassurance he needed heading into the match.

“Tom is someone that I look to for experience,” Duncan said. “Tom is always positive around the group, and just the way he handled himself after a loss, I was really looking to that for myself – obviously new to first grade. Sometimes it’s good to learn from the older boys who have been through it hundreds of times, and just how to be a professional.

“He rallied the troops. He just kind of said, in 2014, the way they started the season wasn’t ideal, and just him having been there and been through it, he rallied the troops.”

After 12 seasons with the club, Burgess will hang up his South Sydney boots at the end of the year, before heading to the Super League for the final few years of his career. And while he wants to end his Australian career on a high, he said it wasn’t the motive behind his pep talk.

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“Whether it’s your first or your last year, you always want to be successful, so I’m not trying to bring too much into that just yet,” Burgess said.

“There are emotions through the year that I’m sure we’ll rely on, I’ve been there in the past where players are leaving, and it definitely sparks something in you.

“But I think for us it’s just about winning every week. Every session out there on the training field is where the work is done.”

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