The Daily Telegraph has revealed how former Wigan star George Burgess has had to learn to walk again in a bid to get back on the rugby league field.
Burgess signed for the Warriors back in 2020, but made just eight appearances after a serious hip injury almost forced him into early retirement.
At just 29, however, the rampaging forward was keen to give it another go after successful surgery and St George Illawarra were the team to win the race.
Though Burgess will have to wait until November to become an official St George player, he has already started working with the club’s medical staff in a bid to get back fighting fit again.
“I’ve had to learn how to walk normally again,” Burgess told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s a whole new metal hip. The pain has changed massively already.
“I’ve carried the pain for 10 years and had some good and bad years managing it. With the chronic pain that I had, I was becoming very unhappy. Even to the point I was a bit depressed with life, being injured and in pain all the time.
“Since having surgery I’ve felt better mentally. Last year it was pretty bad. It was tough being away from family in lockdown not knowing (what my future held) and not having regular treatment. It deteriorated. I found myself struggling a bit with it, not knowing where to turn.
“I didn’t want to retire. I just thought I want to give it another crack. There was a point last year where I thought I might be forced into retirement.”
Burgess played 150 games for South Sydney over a period of seven years before Wigan bought the prop as a marquee player ahead of the 2020 season.
Of course, that didn’t work out, but now he has another shot of redemption in the NRL.
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