Rabbitoh Burgess to miss Manly NRL clash

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett says his side has no need for crisis meetings as they look to get their NRL season back on track against Manly without skipper Sam Burgess.

Burgess has fallen short in his bid to return from shoulder surgery against the Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon after failing to train with the side during Friday’s captain’s run.

The Englishman was aiming to be back this week from a month-long lay-off after going in for a shoulder clean up, but Bennett said he was unlikely to return next week against North Queensland.

“Sam’s not playing, he’s not where we want him to be so he’s probably another couple of weeks,” Bennett said.

“It’s not a setback, just treatment and a couple of triggers have changed after they did the operation.”

Bennett said former Brisbane Bronco Jaydn Su’a would make his club debut from the bench a fortnight after securing a mid-season release to the Rabbitohs with Kyle Turner to start in the back-row.

Bennett said back-rower Ethan Lowe would be rested following his stellar Queensland State of Origin debut on Wednesday during which he made 46 tackles and 15 runs in an 80-minute effort, as well as putting in a perfect performance with the boot.

Bennett says his other Origin players Damien Cook, Dane Gagai and Cameron Murray will play.

“They’re all good to go,” Bennett said.

After three straight losses, the Rabbitohs have fallen to be six points behind ladder leaders Melbourne.

In their last two losses, to Penrith and the Wests Tigers, the Rabbitohs have either been level or ahead on the scoreboard going into the final five minutes before being pipped.

Bennett says he is unconcerned by their run of losses and won’t be calling in his players for meetings or truth sessions.

“Still no crisis meetings,” Bennett said.

“We’ll have crisis meetings when we stop beating ourselves.

“The last six minutes of the (Tigers) game we had it and we managed to lose it. No crisis meetings yet.”

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