Tom Burgess makes shock move to Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants sign England International and former NRL Winner Thomas Burgess on a three-year deal from 2025.

One of the most respected and experienced forwards within Rugby League, Thomas hails from Dewsbury, and made his breakthrough at neighbours Bradford Bulls, bursting onto the scene in Super League and then joining South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he has made over 200 appearances with his imposing 6’5” – 120kg frame bringing a huge presence to their pack.

In only his second year down under, the powerhouse prop won the competition with his two brothers by his side, as South Sydney defeated Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30-6, with Burgess also playing in the 2015 World Club Challenge, where they were victorious against St Helens.

Also, a seasoned England international, Tom played in a World Cup final for his country and has made 33 appearances for the national side to date, showing his commitment and consistency throughout his career.

A firm favourite for his club and country, this signing marks a huge statement of intent for the Giants, as they look to strengthen their squad for the coming years in what is already a hugely competitive Betfred Super League competition.

Burgess pens a three-year contract with the Giants, commencing for the 2025 season, with him spending the 2024 season at South Sydney, and joining up with the Giants from November.

Thomas commented on making the move to the Giants.

“I feel real good actually, about getting it all sorted and obviously I have been looking at potentially coming back to the Super League for the last few years but now I re-signed with Souths until the end of the year, but no I’ve been really fortunate to get in touch with Huddersfield, we came to an agreement.

“One thing I am really excited about coming back to Huddersfield, it’s really close to where I grew up, where I went to school, bringing my young family back there and it’s going to be really cool to come back to where it all began with a great club like Huddersfield Giants.”

On what he wants to achieve.

“There is no mistake in what I want to do over in England, I want to come over there and win silverware. I’m not coming back to make up numbers or finish my career. I never got there with Bradford, we had a good side back in those early days, but we never pushed through into the playoffs and made the go for it.

“So that’s one thing I look for in a club, I want to get there, I want to get to those finals and bring silverware back to where it should be, the birthplace of Rugby League”.

Head Coach Ian Watson was delighted to capture Burgess for the 2025 season and beyond.

“This is a huge transfer, not just for the Giants, but for Super League and the game in general, with the stature of Thomas and what he’s achieved in his career to be consistently one of the best front rowers within the game, we’re absolutely delighted for him to become a Giant in 2025.”, said Watson, who is sponsored by KP Motors.

“You only have to look at his career, winning the NRL and consistently being one of the best within the international game, we’ve been on the lookout for a big middle, and Thomas fits the profile of what we’ve been searching for, it’s also great to have another English middle in our pack.

“We heard that Tom may be available within the next year or so, so we touched base, and I had a conversation with him just about Rugby for about an hour, and then received a call from his agent notifying me that he would be interested in joining the Giants, it moved quick from there really.

“I know him from the Lions tour, and I saw then first-hand the standards he sets himself, and how he applies himself in training and during games, it’s what we’re looking for at the Giants, he fits our culture and the future we’re going for here, we want our young players to learn from the very best and we’re getting that in Thomas.

“There was interest in Super League for him, but he wanted to come here, and the three-year deal gives his family security, and he’s moving close to where it all started for him at Bradford.”