Yorkshire RL star charged with alleged car attack in Australia

Prop forward George Burgess, one of four Dewsbury-born brothers now playing in Australia’s National Rugby League, was suspended for two matches by the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

He is alleged to have hurled a street sign into a car windscreen in Cairns in the early hours of Monday morning after his team’s 30-24 win over Gold Coast Titans.

The 21-year-old has been charged with two counts of wilful damage to property and is due to appear before magistrates in Cairns on July 10.

In a statement issued through the Rabbitohs, Burgess said: “I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Rabbitohs members, sponsors and everyone in the community.

“I have let my team and my family down. I acknowledge that I am a role model for kids and I will do everything I can to restore my reputation through working harder in the community.

“It is my responsibility to ensure that this type of behaviour does not happen again.

“I will learn from my mistake and bounce back stronger and better as a person.”

The club says Burgess will also pay for the cost of the damage, take part in an anger management program and commit to a further 50 hours of community support work.

Chief executive Shane Richardson said: “George accepts he’s done the wrong thing and that there has to be a price. For someone on his contract level it is a big price to pay and he still has to deal with the issue in court.”