Rugby league star Sam Burgess broke down in tears following the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ finals loss to the Sydney Roosters on Saturday.
The eight-point defeat follows an intense few weeks for Burgess after sexting allegations were made against South Sydney players by a 23-year-old woman.
An NRL investigation has cleared Burgess of any inappropriate behaviour and he has since revealed he has hired a lawyer to pursue defamation action.
Rugby League star Sam Burgess (pictured) broke down in tears on his way to the change rooms following South Sydney Rabbitohs finals loss to the Sydney Roosters on Saturday in Sydney
A South Sydney investigation has cleared Burgess (pictured with wife) of any inappropriate behaviour and he has since revealed he has hired a lawyer to pursue defamation action
Last week, the South Sydney Rabbitohs accused the woman at the centre of the sexting scandal of timing her complaints to line up with his team’s clash with the Roosters on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old has been accused of deliberately trying to influence the game’s outcome, with the Rabbitohs alleging she has ties to the Roosters through her brother, the Daily Telegraph reported.
While the alleged Facebook video chat in which she claimed two players, neither of which were Burgess, exposed themselves occurred in May, she decided to come forward to the Telegraph on Monday, September 9.
The England international fronted the media on Tuesday afternoon to promote the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night
She allegedly contacted the publication following the Rabbitohs’ qualifying final loss to Melbourne, which moved them to the same side of the draw as their arch-rivals, the Roosters.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson brushed off the theory, telling a club official: ‘I don’t care if they play all four Burgess brothers.’
The young woman, whose family are also understood to be Rooster supporters, is currently on holiday in South Africa.
She was interviewed by NRL integrity unit investigator Karyn Murphy, but declined to be questioned by a five-person panel.
The NRL insists the woman can still speak out at any time if she decides she wants to make a statement, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The eight point defeat follows an intense few weeks for Burgess after sexting allegations were made against Souths players by a 23-year-old woman
Screen shots from the alleged sexual video call were reportedly shared to Burgess’ (pictured with wife, Phoebe) social media account
Burgess has thanked his pregnant wife Phoebe for standing by him following the lewd sexting scandal
Burgess faced questions about the scandal on Tuesday ahead of the Rabbitohs’ Saturday preliminary final against the Roosters.
During the press conference, Burgess declined to directly address the allegations, saying there was an inquiry underway.
He said he expected the results of the inquiry would be revealed within 24 to 48 hours, and insisted ‘the truth will come out’.
Souths chief executive Blake Solly told the Daily Telegraph he had ‘constructive and helpful’ discussions with the 23-year-old woman.
Putting on a united front? Pregnant Phoebe Burgess returned to social media on Monday… less than 24 hours before he fronted the media over the NRL sexting scandal
‘What hurts me the most is seeing my wife upset,’ Burgess (pictured) said while speaking out for the first time
‘I first asked the club to investigate in May but, apart from an email acknowledging my complaint, no one got back to me,’ the woman who made the allegations said.
‘I just want this sort of behaviour to stop — the players think they’re indestructible.’
Burgess’s brothers Tom and George, who were not involved in the incident, have both stood by him during the controversy, as has his wife Phoebe, who posted a supportive photo on Instagram on Monday.
The Rabbitohs lock thanked his family during a ‘tricky few days’ and said ‘fortunately I’ve got a strong wife’.
‘What hurts me the most is seeing my wife upset,’ Burgess said.
‘I’m not angry, you can all make your own assumptions regarding the timing of this whole thing coming to light.
‘I just want to protect and help my family. I just want them to be safe and happy.’
In the spotlight: Phoebe and Sam tied the knot in 2015 and are parents to nineteen-month-old daughter Poppy
Phoebe and Sam are expecting their second child, a boy, in coming months