The curse of the Burgess brothers: How the career moves of Sam and George destroyed their marriages

The Burgess brothers are known for being unlucky in love and their footy careers are often to blame.  

NRL star George Burgess is the latest sibling to call time on his marriage, splitting with his wife Joanna King after seven years. 

Sources close to the player confirmed to Daily Mail Australia this week the former St. George Illawarra player, 31, left their family home in March and he’s already been spotted on the dating apps Tinder and Raya. 

While their separation is said to be amicable, unlike his brother Sam Burgess’ tumultuous split with his ex-wife Phoebe, there seems to be one similarity between the brothers – an international move with their partners both occurred before the breakups. 

George and Joanna moved to the UK with their family in November 2019, after he signed a three-year deal with English team Wigan Warriors. 

It was revealed on Thursday that NRL star George Burgess and his wife Joanna King had split after seven years of marriage

At the time, Super League champions Wigan announced the England international front-rower would be joining them for the 2020 season. 

Earlier in 2019, George served a nine-match ban after being found guilty of eye-gouging Wests Tigers player Robbie Farah.

‘George is one of the world’s best front-rowers,’ Wigan head coach Adrian Lam said in a club statement at the time.

‘He is respected highly by his peers in the NRL and at international level and his experience, leadership and physicality will be of real benefit for us.’

And while their shock split is said to be amicable, unlike his brother Sam Burgess' tumultuous split from his ex-wife Phoebe, there seems to be at least one similarity between the brothers; an international move with their partners both occurred before the breakups

And while their shock split is said to be amicable, unlike his brother Sam Burgess’ tumultuous split from his ex-wife Phoebe, there seems to be at least one similarity between the brothers; an international move with their partners both occurred before the breakups

George and Joanna moved to the UK with their family in November 2019, after he signed a three-year deal with English team Wigan Warriors

George and Joanna moved to the UK with their family in November 2019, after he signed a three-year deal with English team Wigan Warriors

Meanwhile, Sam, 34, and Phoebe, 35, relocated to Bath in late 2014 – a year before they tied the knot at her family’s sprawling property in Bowral in December 2015.

Phoebe previously said she was ‘completely in love’ with the city as they settled into their life there before coming back to Australia and starting a family. 

The second-youngest of the four Burgess brothers played NRL in Australia for four years before being tempted back to his U.K homeland. 

Joanna is pictured in the UK as she settled into life abroad

Joanna is pictured in the UK as she settled into life abroad

Sam, 34, and Phoebe, 35, relocated to Bath in late 2014 - a year before they tied the knot at her family's sprawling property in Bowral in December 2015. Pictured together in the UK

Sam, 34, and Phoebe, 35, relocated to Bath in late 2014 – a year before they tied the knot at her family’s sprawling property in Bowral in December 2015. Pictured together in the UK

Phoebe previously said she was 'completely in love with Bath life' as they settled into their life there before coming back to Australia and starting a family

Phoebe previously said she was ‘completely in love with Bath life’ as they settled into their life there before coming back to Australia and starting a family

‘I’d gone from West Yorkshire to Sydney; this great city, where it was red hot. I was going to the beach every day, playing golf four times a week and playing professional rugby league. I was living my dream,’ Sam previously told The Daily Mail.

Phoebe split from Rabbitohs star Sam in October 2019 before finalising their divorce a year later.

They married in 2015, separated in late 2018 and resumed their relationship in early 2019. They split for good on October 2 that year.

Phoebe is pictured with Sam's brothers Tom and George in the UK

Phoebe is pictured with Sam’s brothers Tom and George in the UK

Phoebe recently said she had been ‘doing well’ while juggling her career with raising her two children with Sam, daughter Poppy, six, and son Billy, four.

Daily Mail Australia revealed last month Sam is now expecting a third child with his new partner Lucy Graham, just five months after they went public with their romance.

‘We are so excited and happy to be starting this new chapter together… Happy days,’ the English rugby league star said in a statement.

George and Joanna’s split was made public on Thursday. 

Phoebe split from Rabbitohs star Sam in October 2019 before finalising their divorce a year later. Phoebe recently said she had been 'doing well' while juggling her career with raising her two children with Sam, daughter Poppy, six, and son Billy, four

Phoebe split from Rabbitohs star Sam in October 2019 before finalising their divorce a year later. Phoebe recently said she had been ‘doing well’ while juggling her career with raising her two children with Sam, daughter Poppy, six, and son Billy, four

Sources close to the player confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he left the property he shared with Joanna in March and has since relocated to an apartment in Bondi. 

Insiders claim the couple, who have three children together and were once thought to be inseparable, are ‘100 per cent over’.

Burgess acknowledged Joanna in a recent Mother’s Day tribute despite their break-up.

Joanna, an interior designer, has reportedly moved back to Queensland with her parents.

She is rumoured to be gearing up to launch a mummy blog/influencer type business which aligns with her recent social media tease of a ‘special announcement coming soon’.

George and Joanna's split was made public on Thursday. Sources close to the player confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he left the property he shared with Joanna in March and has since relocated to an apartment in Bondi

George and Joanna’s split was made public on Thursday. Sources close to the player confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he left the property he shared with Joanna in March and has since relocated to an apartment in Bondi

The couple, who were last photographed together on March 14, had navigated a whirlwind of challenges in recent years.

Burgess’s gambling addiction has been a matter of public record, and he has been open about attending rehab to help deal with it.

When he joined the Dragons after two years back home in England, the former South Sydney forward became the first man to play professional rugby league following hip resurfacing surgery.

But his comeback was overshadowed in March 2022 when he was charged by police after a woman claimed he ‘touched her bottom’ without consent.

Burgess later checked into a rehabilitation facility to deal with personal issues unrelated to the criminal charge.

He made two appearances for the Dragons’ NSW Cup side in August following his time away from the club.

George is pictured playing for the Dragons last year

George is pictured playing for the Dragons last year 

Burgess (pictured with lawyer Bryan Wrench, right) entered a plea of not guilty when he was charged with sexual touching without consent in March last year

Burgess (pictured with lawyer Bryan Wrench, right) entered a plea of not guilty when he was charged with sexual touching without consent in March last year

He is back in rugby league and remains intent on making a comeback after recently signing for Cairns Brothers.

English-born Burgess admitted he felt the time was right, as Daily Mail Australia revealed last week.

‘I’d been back around South Sydney doing the corporate game day stuff and I was seeing the energy again, and I felt that it might be time to get back around a footy club,’ he said after his unveiling in Cairns on last Wednesday.

Burgess and his ex-model wife met in 2014 when he was playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

They were engaged two years later and share three children together, Boston, four, Birdie, three, and Blainey, two.

Insiders claim the couple, once thought to be inseparable, are '100 per cent over,' marking the end of a relationship that lasted over seven years and produced three children

Insiders claim the couple, once thought to be inseparable, are ‘100 per cent over,’ marking the end of a relationship that lasted over seven years and produced three children

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