James Graham: The game has lost one of its biggest superstars in Sam Burgess

Drew Darbyshire

James Graham says the retiring Sam Burgess is one of the best players of this generation.

Burgess, 30, has been forced to announce his immediate retirement from the game due to a shoulder problem.

Graham played against Burgess in the 2014 NRL Grand Final, with the pair clashing heads just seconds into the game. They’ve played together for England and Great Britain on the international stage as well.

On Burgess, Graham told NRL.com: “From the game’s point of view, he’s a huge loss.

“The competition is going to be poorer for him not being there, he’s one of the game’s biggest superstars, if not the biggest superstar.

“He’s one of the best players of the generation to play. He will be remembered for a very long time, especially for what he did for South Sydney in ending their [title] drought.

“Not just in the grand final in 2014, but it’s the things that he did the years before and the performances he gave to put them in a position to win the Grand Final.”

Watch NRL and live stream every NRL game to keep up with how the Burgess boys, John Bateman, Ryan Sutton, Elliott Whitehead, James Graham and all the others are getting on Down Under.


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