A woman who claimed George Burgess ‘touched her on the bottom’ after sharing a cup of tea had contacted the football star through Instagram asking for signed memorabilia to auction for charity.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the details of the message which is at the centre of the explosive allegations against the NRL star and married father-of-three.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly messaged Burgess and his brother Tom in early March asking for a signed jersey.
Police allege that Burgess delivered the jersey on March 8, and when he was leaving the woman’s Mascot home, in Sydney’s inner south, he ‘touched her bottom’ in a sexual way that prompted her to make a complaint.
Burgess has pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually touching a person without consent.
George Burgess with wife Joanna. Burgess has been charged with sexually touching a woman without consent, and will face court on April 13
The woman allegedly made contact with both George and Tom Burgess in March, asking for a signed jersey
‘Hi guys. It’s a huge favour to ask you guys please. My sister is organising (a fundraiser]),’ the message read.
‘We want to get some footy jerseys signed. We will purchase them unless you’re willing to donate one and auction them off.’
When the message to the brothers went unanswered, it is alleged the woman then contacted older brother Luke.
‘Hey Luke, can you do me a favour please? I just messaged George and Tom, but no idea if I still have their current phone numbers,’ she wrote.
‘My sister is organising (a fundraiser) and we want to get a couple of jerseys signed to auction off. So I’ve asked the boys if they could help.’
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the woman has had contact with the Burgess family for more than a decade, having first started communicating with Luke in 2012.
The woman told police George Burgess ‘touched her bottom’ when he was leaving her Mascot home on March 8
Burgess was delivering a signed football jersey to a woman’s house in Mascot, in Sydney’s east, when an alleged incident happened. His wife Joanna (pictured) is supporting him through the court process
An Instagram message the woman allegedly sent to Luke Burgess in March this year
A series of messages reveals friendly banter between the woman and Luke, and then with brothers Sam, Tom and George in the following years.
‘If you want to hang out sometime, let me know,’ the woman wrote to Sam Burgess in November 2020.
In a separate conversation, the woman allegedly messages Sam to say she saw his brothers at the gym.
‘I think your bro (sic) trains where I do,’ the woman wrote.
In a message sent in May 2015, the woman offers to return Sam’s headphones to him.
Burgess has pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually touching a person without consent (pictured: George Burgess with wife Joanna)
Text messages reveal all four Burgess brothers were known to the woman prior to the alleged incident on March 8
A message from the woman to Sam Burgess sent in 2020 shows friendly banter between the pair
The woman had been in contact with the Burgess brothers for many years before the alleged groping incident involving George. In May 2015, the woman contacted Sam on Facebook to return his headphones
The woman declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
The NRL is allowing Burgess to play in the current season while the case plays out in the courts.
‘So as not to prejudice Burgess’ criminal proceedings case, the NRL will wait the outcome of that case before taking any action for possible breaches of NRL rules,’ an NRL statement read.
Messages between the alleged victim and Sam Burgess sent in 2020 talking about her tan
The NRL is allowing Burgess to play in the current season while the case plays out in court
‘The decision in no way forms a judgment on the allegations against Burgess which are serious and the NRL reserves the right to impose a No Fault Stand Down in the future.’
Burgess charge of ‘sexual touching without consent’ carries a maximum sentence of five years.
His case has been adjourned until June 8 giving police time to provide the brief of evidence however Burgess has been excused from appearing.
The English-born St George Illawarra forward returned to the NRL this season after a an 18-month stint in the Super League.
Prior to his time in the UK, Burgess played 149 NRL games for the Rabbitohs – including the 2014 grand final.
Police said the woman contacted Burgess via Instagram, wanting a signed St George Illawarra Dragons jersey for a charity auction
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