Plenty of Rabbitohs fans are asking why the Bunnies have given Tom Burgess permission to negotiate with rival teams.
Burgess has been in career-best form for the Bunnies this season, leading the way up front and gaining the hard yards.
But Rabbitohs football manager Mark Ellison set the record straight on the last of the Burgess brothers left standing at the Rabbitohs.
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“Tom is going great and we want him to stay,” Ellison told Wide World of Sports.
“He has an option his way for 2024 so whatever happens, he will be with us for next season at least – and hopefully longer.”
NRL star picks England over Australia
Bulldogs forward Max King – the grandson of Kangaroos legend Johnny King – has put his hand up to play for England in the World Cup later this year.
King is a fourth generation footballer – his great-grandfather, Cec, played for Souths in the 1940s, Johnny won seven premierships with the mighty St George in the 1960s and his dad David played for Gold Coast in the ’90s.
David then played for Huddersfield in England – and it was there that Max was born in 1997.
“My mum is English and I spent the first seven years of my life there before moving back to Oz,” Max told Wide World of Sports.
“So I definitely qualify for England and it would be a great opportunity if I got selected.
“Grandad tells plenty of stories about playing for Australia but he is more than happy for me if I get chosen for England.
“I will wait and see what happens.”
England coach Shaun Wane is travelling to Magic Round to check out players who are eligible to play for the Lions, with the much-improved King certain to be high on his list.
King, who joined the Bulldogs from Melbourne this season and was one of the heroes of last weekend’s shock win over the Roosters, has finally overcome a nagging Achilles injury.
And he has long lost his English accent.
“When I first got here the other kids teased me because of the way I spoke,” he explained.
“So I worked hard on talking like an Aussie kid. Now I wish I’d kept the English accent … I reckon the girls would love it,” he added with a cheeky grin.
Boom youngster attracts interest
A young centre/wing playing in the Queensland Cup is one of the hottest properties on the market for next season.
Solomona Faataape, a speedy 21-year-old who plays for Brisbane Tigers, scored seven tries in his first four games and has quickly caught the eye of NRL scouts.
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At least half a dozen clubs have made enquiries about his availability and the flyer is coming off contract and keen for a crack at the NRL.
If he keeps up his strike rate, he will have no trouble getting a fulltime deal in the big league next season.
Horror luck for young hooker
Wests Tigers have a champion young hooker playing for the Magpies in the NSW Cup – but bad luck struck Rua Ngatikaura last weekend.
Ngatikaura – a quick, elusive hooker in the Harry Grant mould – scored two tries against the Dragons but then broke his ankle late in the match.
The youngster, who was given a run in first grade in the trials and is held in high regard in Tiger-town, isn’t expected to play again this season.
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