HE'S yet to officially report for duty but the Dragons already have a drama on their hands in new recruit George Burgess, with the England International to face court in October over an incident in the Wollongong CBD on Monday night.
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The 29-year-old recently shifted to Wollongong to resurrect his NRL career after career-saving hip surgery in the UK, having last played for the Rabbitohs in 2019.
He'll now face court in October charged with malicious damage after allegedly throwing another man's phone on the road following an altercation.
A police statement issued on Wednesday confirmed an investigation into the incident was underway.
"It is alleged a verbal altercation occurred between two men - aged 32 and 29 - before the younger man grabbed the older man's mobile phone and threw it on the roadway," the statement read.
"The incident was reported to police and inquiries are continuing."
The statement was subsequently updated on Thursday morning confirming that the 29-year-old man had been issued a court attendance notice for malicious damage.
The Dragons confirmed on Wednesday that it had reported the incident to the NRL Integrity Unit that has commenced its own investigation into the matter.
"St George Illawarra are aware of an alleged road incident involving 2022 recruit George Burgess," the club said in a statement.
"The NRL integrity unit have been informed. As the police are currently investigating the matter, the Dragons will be making no further comment at this stage."
Should Burgess be found guilty he'll almost certainly cop some sanction from the NRL, including possible suspension.
It seems unlikely the incident would see the Dragons tear up his contract but it's an ignominious start to his time at the club. It's also a headache the joint-venture doesn't need amid a tumultuous 2021 campaign.
Five-eighth Corey Norman missed his side's season-opener after being slapped with a one-game suspension and $10,000 fine for his involvement in a Cronulla street fight in January.
The club fought hard against the sanction that was widely criticised given Norman did not appear to be the aggressor in the incident.
In July, 13 Dragons players were hit with a total of $305,000 in fines and a combined 20 weeks' worth of suspensions after attending a house party at the home of former Dragons prop Paul Vaughan.
The gathering was in blatant contravention of NSW Public Health Orders and the NRL's own COVID biosecurity protocols.
Vaughan was hit with a $50,000 fine and eight-game suspension, while Norman ($50,000) and Jack de Belin ($42,000) were also heavily fined given their checkered off-field histories.
Vaughan was ultimately sacked by the Dragons, with Burgess among a number of recruits intended to fill the void up front.
Signing the England International on a two-year deal has been regarded as a gamble given he failed to see out a rich deal with Wigan due to the chronic hip injury that required surgery in February.
The Dragons confirmed its medical staff will need to work with Burgess to continue rehabilitation to get him ready for the 2022 season.
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
