George Burgess has sensationally walked out of a fiery Main Event Face Off with Nelson Asofa-Solomona, in which the Rabbitohs premiership hero was dubbed the worst footballer in his family and accused of trying to build his acting career off Australia’s new crossover king.
Elsewhere during proceedings, and in reply, Burgess branded No Limit’s new poster boy an NRL “pussycat”, suggested he was largely unliked, and promised to end the “silly, little boxing career that he’s going for”.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker plus Nelson Asofa-Solomona vs George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
During an intense studio showdown which lasted only 10 minutes – at which point, Burgess said he had a plane to catch – the warring premiership heroes traded insults in the build towards their June 24 showdown in Brisbane.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia this week, a furious Burgess was left waiting for over two hours inside a Sydney recording studio by the fighter dubbed Big Nasty, who eventually blamed his late arrival on a missed flight out of Melbourne.
In fact, so late did the former Melbourne Storm enforcer arrive, Burgess had left the building for a walk, and to calm down, with Main Event host Ben Damon admitting the interview would only take place “if he comes back at this point … he’s f***ed off”.
Yet despite the delay, Asofa-Solomona offered no apologies to Burgess when he finally returned, and instead suggested the 34-year-old Englishman was the worst footballer among siblings Sam, Tom, and Luke.
Burgess, in reply, suggested the former prop was not only a “big pussycat” on the footy field, or widely disliked, but about to have his heavyweight tilt ended.
Pushed on the cat claim by Damon, Burgess grinned: “He is, bro. Everyone says it. And no one likes him. So I need to shut him up. Put an end to this silly, little boxing career that he’s going for.”
NAS: “We’re not in the game to be liked. It’s not a popularity contest. And you can call me a big cat. Have you seen a cat fight? They’re pretty good.”
Burgess: “Never seen it”.
NAS: “You will. June 24.”
Asked by Damon why the former Storm prop was a pussycat, Burgess continued: “He knows why”.
NAS: “That’s a response from someone who has no idea.”
All of which came late in the Face Off.
And with Asofa-Solomona, who walked out on a $800,000-a-year NRL contract to box, then asked where Burgess sat among his own famous NRL siblings.
“He’s the worst of the bunch. He’s the worst Burgess,” NAS said.
Burgess: “I couldn’t give a damn, man. He’s just talking it up for the cameras. [But] I’m tired of talking. Tired of waiting around for this guy. I’m done. My patience has run out. I’m ready to go and get back into training. Get back to work.”
But as for NAS now giving that apology for being late?
“Maybe after the fight,” he grinned, “once I knock him out”.
At which point Burgess said: “You can try brother. Good luck to you. I’ve gotta go. I’ve gotta catch a flight …”
NAS: “Safe flight home”.
And with that, Burgess was up and out of the studio as NAS clapped him off.
Finishing up a crazy 10 minutes that also saw both men take aim.
NAS goes in on George Burgess | 01:27
“He’s not playing in the NRL anymore,” Burgess said at one point, when pushed on the rugby league career of his rival. “He’s telling everyone that he’s a boxer. So he better start acting like a boxer.
“If he wants to fight some real boxers one day, he better start acting like a boxer.”
NAS: “This guy is putting his best acting hat on right now. And it’s great. I’m actually enjoying the show. You’re putting on a great show right now, really good.”
Later, Asofa-Solomona also took aim at Burgess recently playing in a Legend of League charity game, footage of which – including the retired Rabbitoh trampling a winger, the local high school principal — made headlines with Fox Sports Australia.
“You’ve got your fingers in a lot of pies,” NAS said. “Doing your acting thing. Doing a bit of footy. I saw the footage which was quite funny. You’ve said I run at wingers and you were running at a winger …”
Burgess: “I was playing on the wing at that point.”
NAS, laughing: “Even worse. Playing on the wing.”
Burgess: “Giving back to the community mate. Something you wouldn’t know about.”
NAS: “You said I run at wingers and you played on the wing. Says a lot about you, bro.”
Elsewhere, and given nobody has any clue exactly how well Burgess throws them, the former Test prop added how “there’s a fear around the unknown, and I think Nelson is feeling that, doesn’t know what to expect … and it’s going to be a good f***ing match”.
“He’s just a man with two arms and two legs,” Nelson replied. “I just see a big tree in front of me …”
“Just a nobody, huh?” Burgess interrupted.
NAS: “I’m going to bring my axe and I’m going to cut that tree down”.
Burgess: “Better bring a big axe”.
At one point, NAS also branded his rival “a big sook”, explaining how “if he turned up late and I was here, I wouldn’t care. I’d adapt and overcome like I always do.”
Asked by Damon why the delay had so upset him, Burgess – who would eventually race to Sydney airport only to miss a flight home and be delayed several more hours – said: “You know, it’s bare minimum standards.
“But I don’t give a f*** anymore. I’ll move on and get ready for the fight. Hopefully he’s improved …”
NAS: “You talk about disrespect. That’s disrespectful. I’ve never seen you throw a punch. Never seen you jump on a bag. [Laughing] Never even seen you go to Bali and throw a few punches for your mates. Haven’t seen nothing …”
Burgess: “That’s a streetfight, bro. That’s not boxing.”
NAS: “[Your comments], that’s disrespect.”
All of which was some glorious tongue fu which kicked off in the opening minutes of the Face Off.
Asked initially how he felt by the delay, Burgess replied: “I’m alright. P***ed off but alright”.
And as for what most angered the big fella?
“Him thinking his time is more valuable than ours,” he said, looking across at his rival. “It’s not. It’s rude. That’s what it is.”
NAS: “The movie doesn’t start without this main actor, you know? I’m here now. Let’s get the show on the road.”
Burgess: “You’re the support actor, bro.”
Cue long pause.
Burgess: “So no apologies?”
More silence.
Burgess: “Right, OK. I see how it is.”
‘That was to get rid of Jake Paul’ | 00:29
Quizzed by Damon on if his delay was a tactic, NAS stared across at Burgess and said: “Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t.
“You are the B side, I’m the A side. This is my show. Welcome to The Nasty Show.”
Burgess: “Bad move, bro. Bad move”.
NAS: “Why what’s gunna happen?”
Burgess: “You’ll see.”