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Watch: Sam Burgess announces himself with huge hit on NRL enforcer

We’re winding the clock back to October 2007 when Sam Burgess announced himself to the rugby league world.

After a stellar rookie season with Bradford Bulls, Burgess was selected by Great Britain coach Tony Smith for the opening Test Match against New Zealand.

Aged 18, Sam was still unknown to many and his selection raised a few eyebrows – however it quickly became evident he was international class.

On the opposing side that night in Huddersfield was Fuifui Moimoi, arguably the NRL’s leading forward at the time having hit his peak playing for the Parramatta Eels.

Moimoi’s destructive running style dented holes in the Lions defence time after time but with five minutes to go he was sat down by a monster hit from Slammin’ Sam.

It was a tackle that made rugby league audiences down under take notice of Burgess as he did what very few players have done and floored the Kiwi enforcer.

It was a night that well and truly belonged to the Dewsbury-born teenager having scored the game’s decisive try just 10 minutes earlier – Great Britain eventually winning 20-14.

Burgess and Moimoi would continue their rivalry when Sam joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs three years later – a move that saw him become the game’s leading forward.

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