Sam Burgess could make a return to the NRL after he was cleared by police of domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Phoebe.
Phoebe had accused Burgess of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse during their marriage, which ended in acrimony in late 2019.
The allegations were published in The Australian newspaper in October last year and denied vehemently by Burgess at the time.
NSW Police investigated the allegations for twelve months before announcing in October this year that no action would be taken against Burgess.
The end of the investigation means that Burgess could make a return to South Sydney – after he stood down from a development coach role with the team to address the allegations.
Sam Burgess could make a return to the NRL after he was cleared by police of domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Phoebe
Phoebe had accused Burgess of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse during their marriage, which ended in acrimony in late 2019
He will only be allowed to return once the NRL finishes its own investigation into the accusations.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the investigation was likely to wrap up before the end of the year.
‘Obviously the police have made an announcement that they are not taking any criminal action against him,’ he said.
‘We now have to conclude our investigation which involves getting that information and then we will be in a position to finalise that.
‘I don’t believe there are too many outstanding elements to that so it is something we would like to bring to a close.’
Burgess has already made plans to fill in as coach for the Orara Valley Axemen next season.
‘I’ve always found that I’ve not really done things the traditional way and I didn’t want to start my coaching career as an assistant coach, I want to be a head coach eventually,’ he previously said.
‘So I figured I’ll learn a lot more in this role at Orara Valley as a head coach managing all the different dynamics within a team,’ Burgess said.
Having spent more than 12 months looking at the claims New South Wales Police confirmed their investigation into Burgess was over in a 12-word statement.
‘Following extensive inquiries, no further police action is expected to be taken,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
Burgess’s solicitor Chris Murphy first revealed NSW Police had closed its investigation into his client in a Twitter post on October 20.
‘Re media claims against my client Sam Burgess by ex,’ he wrote.
‘NSW Police Operational Legal Advice unit just recommended no criminal prosecution(s) be preferred against Sam Burgess in relation to these allegations.
‘That now concludes this investigation.’
The allegations against Burgess were published in The Australian newspaper in October last year and denied vehemently by Burgess at the time. Sam and Phoebe are pictured in 2016
Burgess was cleared in March of having intimidated his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke during a confrontation at the Hooke family’s Southern Highlands home in October 2019. Phoebe is pictured with her father and Burgess
Mr Murphy’s firm has acted for Burgess through a series of legal matters the former Souths captain has faced over the past 12 months.
‘Much hurt and harm has been done to Sam Burgess,’ he wrote on Twitter in a follow-up post.
‘He has been damaged. He wants the public to be made aware that allegations have been thoroughly examined and at length by NSW Police and there is nothing for him to be called to answer.’
The original reports in The Australian followed ‘a four-month investigation’ and included statements from Phoebe and her father Mitchell Hooke.
The newspaper said the reports relied upon ‘pharmaceutical records, sworn statements to NSW Police, statutory declarations and witness accounts’.
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They also drew on ‘call logs, emails, text messages, bank records, WhatsApp exchanges and Uber receipts.’
The allegations cost Burgess his coaching job with South Sydney and commentary work with Fox Sports.
Defamation lawyer Mark O’Brien, acting for Burgess, said after the stories were published: ‘The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client.’
‘It is apparent sources of the false allegations are those currently in dispute with my client over various issues.’
Daily Mail Australia understands Burgess is not contemplating defamation action.
Burgess’s solicitor Bryan Wrench accused Phoebe and her father of setting out to destroy his client’s reputation, which they denied. Burgess is pictured with Mr Wrench and mother Julie Burgess while defending a charge of intimidating Phoebe’s father Mitchell Hooke
Phoebe Burgess and her father Mitchell Hooke admitted giving information to The Australian newspaper which was investigated by police. Phoebe said she wanted to expose a culture of covering up bad behaviour by players, particularly towards women, in the NRL
Phoebe had made a 50-page statement containing claims about her former husband’s lifestyle and accusations about his conduct towards her during their troubled relationship.
Much of that material was published in The Australian and NSW Police subsequently established Strike Force Strike Force Irrabella to investigate, issuing a brief statement at the time.
‘On Wednesday 30 September 2020, officers from The Hume Police District received a report outlining various allegations relating to the conduct of a 31-year-old man,’ it stated.
‘Police have commenced inquiries and as these inquiries are in their infancy, no further comment will be provided at this time.’
The NRL began its own inquiry in October last year and has not yet revealed any findings.
‘Now that the police investigation is complete, the NRL Integrity Unit will be able to finalise its own investigation,’ an NRL spokesman said.
Burgess underwent a stint in rehabilitation earlier this year and appeared on the last season of SAS Australia (pictured) where he admitted infidelity with a woman in Melbourne in 2017
Souths did not conduct a separate investigation but the club had said it was treating the allegations ‘with the utmost seriousness’ when they were originally made.
‘We were, and remain, supportive of and cooperative with the investigations undertaken by NSW Police and the NRL Integrity Unit,’ a club spokesman said on Wednesday.
‘We note the statement today from NSW Police and look forward to the NRL Integrity Unit finalising their investigation.’
The original newspaper stories came as Burgess was facing an accusation he had intimidated Mr Hooke in a confrontation at the Hooke family’s Southern Highlands home the previous year.
Burgess’s lawyers suggested Phoebe and her father had leaked information to The Australian ahead of the intimidation charge being heard.
Both agreed they had given information to The Australian but denied they had done so to destroy Burgess’s reputation.
Burgess’s solicitor Chris Murphy confirmed on October 20 New South Wales Police had closed its investigation into his client. ‘Much hurt and harm has been done to Sam Burgess,’ Mr Murphy wrote. ‘He has been damaged’
Phoebe has said she wanted to expose a toxic culture in the NRL which she claimed included covering up bad behaviour by players, particularly against women.
Burgess was cleared in March of the intimidation charge and an accompanying apprehended violence order to protect Mr Hooke was withdrawn.
Burgess has since undergone a stint in rehabilitation and appeared on the last season of SAS Australia where he admitted infidelity with a woman in Melbourne in 2017.
Sam and Phoebe married in 2015, separated in late 2018 and resumed their relationship in early 2019.
They split permanently on October 2 that year and later divorced. The former couple shares custody of daughter Poppy, four, and Billy, two.
Burgess pleaded guilty to driving with traces of cocaine in his system while picking up the children from Bowral in February and was put on a nine-month conditional release order in May.
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