Former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire says Sam Burgess heads into retirement as one of rugby league’s all-time greats.
Maguire is the latest to pay tribute to the powerhouse Rabbitohs skipper following confirmation injury has forced him to hang up his boots.
Maguire has been reluctant to discuss anything South Sydney-related since being sensationally sacked by the club in 2017 despite having two years left on his deal.
However the current Wests Tigers and New Zealand coach wasn’t afraid to shower his former star with praise on Thursday.
The pair have been in constant contact since Maguire’s exit from Souths and spoke as recently as last month about where Burgess was at in his career.
“I’m shattered for Sam. I’ve been able to forge a really good relationship with Sam in my time there at Souths,” Maguire told AAP.
“He’s one of the all-time great players that’s ever played the game.
“To see the things he’s done in my time as a coach not only just on the field but how he rallies around people as a leader.
“He’s had his challenges but I tell you, if you know Sam the way I do, he’s an incredible human being.”
Maguire and Burgess formed an unbreakable bond on the way to the club’s famous premiership in 2014 that broke a 63-year drought.
Burgess finished the contest despite fracturing his cheekbone in a heavy collision with Canterbury prop James Graham in the opening exchanges.
It has long been compared to Rabbitohs legend John Sattler breaking his jaw minutes into their 1970 grand final triumph.
“One of the all-time moments in rugby league,” Maguire said of the Burgess effort.
“For it to happen in the first tackle in the game and play the way he did, it’s one of the greatest efforts in the game of rugby league.”
“He follows another great at Souths in John Sattler.
“But I think it’s telling of Sam, of his mental toughness and resilience that he’s got. I’m sure he’s going to bounce into something very special moving forward.”
Graham said Burgess would be remembered for more than their bone-shattering clash.
“Even before that game, he was a huge part of ending their drought. Them as a club will be forever indebted to him for what he did at that club,” he said.
“Coming up against him as many times as I did, he’s one of those type of players that when he’s in the opposition, you have to play better because of him.”