E152: SAM BURGESS

We at HP are hugely excited for the start of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 so sent the Professor to record a series of interviews with some of the sports greatest names, where they share the insights, lessons and techniques they have used to scale their chosen heights.

In the first of this series, we welcome the magnificent Sam Burgess, the unassuming lad from Bradford who became a modern day gladiator in an unforgiving business. 

Sam shared the heartache of nursing his dad through his battle against the cruel Motor Neurone Disease, whilst trying to break through as a teenage tyro at Bradford Bulls RLFC. "My Dad had to squeeze a lifetime of lessons into the short time he had left", Sam explained.

Once he'd established his reputation in England, he re-set his ambitions and chose to take on the challenge of conquering Australia's National Rugby League when joining South Sydney Rabbitohs, owned by actor Russell Crowe. He describes the process of changing mindsets and shaping a winning culture from the perspective of leading a dressing room. 

"The question I learned to ask is: when things are tough, do I want you stood next to me?"