Sam Burgess’ high-profile exit from the South Sydney Rabbitohs sent the NRL rumour mill into overdrive.
Stories emerged from all parts over why the club legend had suddenly elected to walk away in a bombshell move during the season.
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Burgess appeared on Fox’s Matty Johns Show on Sunday night where he was asked point blank about the reasons behind his exit.
“I don’t really want to go back into the detail of it all,” Burgess said. “I went in that morning to do the best thing for the club and for the team in that moment.
“I thought being there and the distraction that was around, I made what I thought the best decision was for the team at that time to get away from there.
“A few things had gone on behind closed doors so I thought it’s just best to leave it there and move on.”
His exit saw speculation run wild with no bigger story than one involving club owner and Hollywood megastar Russell Crowe.
In an exclusive column for foxsports.com.au, James Hooper revealed Crowe, Burgess and a Rabbitohs board member had been involved in a phone hook-up where the Englishman aired his frustrations.
“After some robust conversation the Hollywood star had two key questions – is everyone on the same page and can everyone put the club first?” Hooper wrote.
“When Sam continued to detail his list of grievances the Hollywood actor abruptly ended the phone call by hanging up. Yep, the engaged signal.”
Bryan Fletcher threw the explosive rumour to Burgess and the 182-game Souths players didn’t miss a beat with his response.
“That’s bulls**t, yeah it’s bulls**t,” Burgess said emphatically.
“I’ll clear this up. It’s bulls**t because there was no hang up whatsoever. We had a good conversation and he said ‘all right mate we’ll see you later’.
“I don’t know where it’s come from. Somebody has to hang up.
“There was no animosity whatsoever, I was supposed to be up at his farm this week, but expecting the baby and all that.”
In the wake of Burgess’ exit from the club, Johns blasted Souths for allowing the club great to walk away.
“I am blown away by it. I don’t know the nuances of what is going on there, but if Sam Burgess says we have a problem here, then guess what? We have a problem here,” he said on The Matty Johns Podcast.
“I am really shocked by it. They have two weeks to get their s**t together, they have a big game coming up against the Roosters.
“When you are trying to get your s**t together and you are consolidating and getting everyone going, Sam Burgess in my opinion would have been manna from heaven, he is the sort of bloke you need.”
The Bunnies were on top of the table after Round 11 but ultimately missed the finals following defeat in their final game to arch rivals the Roosters.
Johns believes the players have an inflated opinion of their ability to win games at will.
“The back half of this year I have said often at times about South Sydney, South Sydney are an absolutely outstanding football side that lull themselves into thinking they can flick the switch whenever they want,” Johns said.
“That is not the case. They have been playing a really frivolous, careless style of football for too long and unfortunately now the pressure is on, that has become them.
“If there is any splits in the camp or any bulls**t going on, they have to sort it out and get on with it.”