In footy. In anything.

There were two actions from Burgess during the Rabbitohs’ win over Manly at the SCG on Friday night that highlights the depth of his determination this season, but worryingly why Souths might have to win the premiership without him.

One of them came in the dying minutes, with the victory over the competition leaders secured and the statement from Souths starting to reverberate around the famous ground and beyond.

Souths were pressing the Manly line. The play broke down, and Sea Eagles captain Jamie Lyon toed the ball ahead. Lyon chased it. There was nobody between him, the ball and the try line except for 60 metres of sanctified SCG turf.

Until Big Sammy arrived. Channelling the ghost of every famous cover defender to grace that field, all 116 kilograms sprinted across and snuffed out the threat.

These are the plays that coaches have wet dreams about. They are the plays not reflected in the stats. That Burgess made it having done the bulk of his 202 metres, two line breaks and 31 tackles in that match explains his single-minded headspace right now.

The cause for concern comes from the second moment, and it explains the seriousness of the shoulder injury he and Souths must protect between now and the end of the season.

Burgess’ right shoulder is not entirely right. Nobody at Souths will let on exactly how bad it is.

When he fell awkwardly against Canberra late last month, he had genuinely feared the worst. He was man of the match against Manly, but in the first half gave away enough to suggest he’s playing busted.

Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua came bustling in from the sideline, about 30 metres out from his own line, and ran towards Burgess. Instead of trying to consign the loud-mouthed winger back to whence he came, Burgess sheepishly dropped his shoulder to protect it.

Better judges than you and me saw it. They now wonder if Burgess’ shoulder will hold out for the next seven or eight matches they must win if Souths are to claim their first premiership since 1971.

The clock has been ticking for more than four decades for tortured South Sydney souls, but for Burgess it is ticking faster.

His decision earlier this year to ask for a release from the final two years of his deal to sign with English rugby means this is his last chance.

He’s playing like a man who knows it.

“I’ll give my everything I’ve got,” Burgess promised Souths members in a video message when he announced he had signed a three-year deal with legendary English club side Bath. “It won’t change one thing. I want to have a cracking final year at the Bunnies. I want to enjoy every moment I’ve got left in the red and green. Hopefully, when the games come around, Souths members will see the passion I have for the club.”

They have. So have his teammates and coaches. The surprising part of it is how many at Souths don’t want to talk about their best player.

His brother, Luke, declined an offer to talk. So did chief executive Shane Richardson.

Coach Michael Maguire said he would prefer to speak down the track, just not ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Brisbane at ANZ Stadium.

It’s all part of the Burgess edict to shift the focus, from his off-field life to his career, this season.

He has respectfully rejected one-on-one interviews all season, with the exception of a recent Footy Show episode. (To clarify, Burgess is not contracted to Channel Nine).

His absence from the spotlight other than the sanctuary within the white lines of the playing field can be attributed to several factors.

From the moment he arrived in Sin City from Dewsbury in Northern England in late 2009, Burgess became social fodder.

Big, strapping and the new best mate of Souths owner Russell Crowe, he was fresh meat to paparrazos and gossip columnists.

There’s no doubt he lapped up the attention, the red carpets, the resourceful women who were  standing next to him every time he graced the pages of Sydney Confidential.

He was entitled to, of course, but that sort of blanket exposure also makes you a target - inside and outside of your club.

Externally, the rugby league media’s love affair with Burgess fell apart last August when he was suspended after pleading guilty to grabbing the testicles of Storm opponent Will Chambers. Then, on the Friday night before last year’s grand final, came the documentary that hurt Burgess’s reputation, even if it wasn’t of his own doing.

Slammin’ Sam was narrated by Crowe and aired on Fox Sports. Despite its undeniable quality, it was poorly timed - not least because it presupposed Souths would be in the grand final.

Instead, they had lost their preliminary final against Manly the week before.

There had already been some unrest among the players - namely from Greg Inglis - when the Burgess boys had done a promotional shoot in the lead-up to that match.

The doco created more hype around Burgess but the truth of it was it was part of a third-party deal struck with Beyond Entertainment four years earlier.

Burgess isn’t leaving  league because of these reasons, though. Many at Souths doubt it has anything to do with money, and more to do with the fact Maguire can run his team like a ‘‘concentration camp’’.

They’re not our words, but those of former players who have played there in the last few years.

Burgess seemingly fell out of love with footy last year, and wanted a new challenge in a new code ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in his home country.

That shock decision initially angered some teammates, and that includes his brothers, who had followed him to Australia.

Yet now, down the stretch of the season, the dust has settled.

Once the definitive bachelor on Sydney’s social scene, Burgess has in the past year settled down with magazine reporter Phoebe Hooke, rarely touched a drink, and focussed on winning.

Burgess has always enjoyed speaking to the media. Having come from England, where other football codes saturate the sporting coverage, he was grateful for the interest.

Nobody has ever lost a match speaking to a reporter, although nobody has ever lost a match in the press box. Maybe someone has just directed Burgess to Mark Twain:

‘‘Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.’’