Tom Burgess has eyes on the future after Super League return with Huddersfield
TOM Burgess insists his Huddersfield move is a legacy project and not one last big pay day.
The England man has swapped summer in Sydney, where he played at Souths for 12 years, for winter in the area he grew up in.
Many eyebrows were raised when he snubbed linking up with elder brother Sam at title hopefuls Warrington and joined the ninth-placed Giants, who have spent big but delivered precious little.
However, this is about much more. This is about making sure Tom Burgesses of the future are not lost to them, like he was.
“I’ve had a few people say, ‘Why Huddersfield?’ It made sense to me,” the prop said.
“I thought it was a good chance to come back and get around the community in the Kirklees area that helped me on my way when I was coming through.
“I remember playing for Kirklees service area and I’d love to get involved with the junior teams – go full circle.
“Obviously, the on field stuff’s where it’s at but I really want to tap into the community as well. Down the track, I want to get involved with local clubs and do anything I can to try and inspire more young kids to play rugby league.
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“We could tap into that talent and stop Bradford and Leeds taking it, like they did with us. Huddersfield was never really an option for me but there’s plenty of potential there.
“It’s about getting out there – they’re looking to improve the women’s game too. I’ve spoken to one of the people involved there and I’d like to get involved with that too.
“But it starts on the field with our performances.”
Burgess, 32, has already seen some effects of the move across the world with wife Tahlia and children Sophie, Elodie and Alfie.
An early snowstorm meant taking his daughters to school on a sledge while the evening meal is now being referred to as ‘tea.’
His capture is also bringing benefits as old schoolmates want tickets and one, who has been successful in business, is looking at buying a box.
Another also had an unlikely reunion, as he knew the plumber taking care of his rented home!
But Burgess the adult is full of admiration for the way Tahlia has coped with obstacles Burgess the kid would never have thought of.
He added: “I warned them it may snow but nit for a little while, then it dumped a load down straight away. I was like, ‘This is going to be a long Winter.’
“That was actually quite nice. I took the girls to school on a sledge and we built a snowman. That was the first time they’d ever seen fallen snow.
“They loved it then the next day they said they were cold.
“There was a lot of logistical stuff I probably overlooked. I’ve been away for 12 years – I was 20 when I left, so I was just a kid.
“All the adult things, you have to set up your own life again. Things like bank accounts too, I’ve got no credit score over here.
“It took me a month to get wifi!
“But we’re settled in now and my wife’s a warrior. To do all this with a little baby has been hard but she’s been really strong through it all.”