Sam Burgess slams RL chiefs over handling of new disciplinary system
SAM Burgess has blasted rugby league chiefs as he received official notification of a new disciplinary process AFTER he had read about it.
Instead of being issued with charges and instant bans, players will now have points allocated to them over a 12-month period – top six and they are given a one-match suspension with every six incurring an extra suspension.
Now a Grade A offence equals one, B three, C five, D 12 with E meaning referral to a tribunal.
But Warrington coach and rugby league icon Burgess has hit out at how this new system was imposed and how points have carried over from the old one, placing prop Paul Vaughan – who will start 2025 with eight points on his record – at risk.
Also, how as a top boss he found out, hours before the friendly against Widnes.
He said yesterday: “I was sent that this morning. I read about it in the press before I was told about it, probably like most head coaches.
“I’m just telling the truth – we’re three weeks out from the season and I was told about it this morning.
“There’s a lot of frustrating stuff. I think the system looks alright from what I’ve seen of it but nothing should carry over.
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“All of the players have paid the price for their past indiscretions, so let’s move on. If we’re having a new system, just start it now.
“I got in touch with the league in mid-December to see if they’d come out and give us the new legislation and rules. But they said they weren’t ready for it and now, a month later, we’ve still not had anyone out to explain what’s going on.
“We’re playing a game tonight and I don’t know what they’re going to do if they want to sanction one of my players because I just won’t accept it. We’re all playing the same rules but if they’re changing the system, it’s not been explained to us.”
Burgess, heading into his second season at Warrington, has also been left frustrated at the prospect of an extra game after Super League sides were placed into the Challenge Cup a round earlier.
The Wolves were drawn at Whitehaven or Swinton on February 7-9, the weekend before the league season begins.
And the exasperated chief added: “The game before the season? I don’t want to get in any trouble!
“I understand the concept, but are we considered in that? No-one spoke to me about it – we were just told what to do.
“It was, ‘Do this otherwise this will happen.’ We’re not even a consideration in it.”