George had an NRL contract, a perfect family – and the most famous surname in rugby league. At 32 and barely recognisable from his playing days, our photos reveal the stark reality about his life post-retirement

NRL star George Burgess appears to be embracing single life after splitting from his wife Joanna King in 2023 following seven years of marriage.

The 32-year-old looked almost unrecognisable as he partied at a nightclub in Sydney’s once-infamous Kings Cross over the weekend.

The NRL champ was seen chatting to two women and smoking a cigarette at the front of the establishment.

Burgess sported a bushy beard and unkempt locks as he spoke with the blonde and brunette on the street.

He was dressed casually for his night out in white pants, an olive T-shirt and a light blue buttoned shirt.

The sports star was seen laughing while chatting to the women before puffing on his cigarette. 

George Burgess looked almost unrecognisable as he partied at a nightclub in Sydney’s once-infamous Kings Cross over the weekend

The NRL champ was seen chatting to two women and smoking a cigarette at the front of the establishment

Burgess sported a very bushy beard and unkempt locks as spoke with the blonde and brunette on the street

Just a couple of months after moving out of the family home following his marriage split, Burgess was spotted on dating apps, Tinder and Raya.

Former model Joanna, now an interior designer, reportedly moved back to Queensland with her parents.

Sources close to the player confirmed to Daily Mail Australia at the time that he left the property he shared with Joanna in March and relocated to an apartment in Bondi.

Insiders claimed the couple, who have three children together and were once thought to be inseparable, are ‘100 per cent over’.

It appears the split was amicable, with Burgess acknowledging Joanna in a Mother’s Day tribute after their break-up.

This is very much in contrast to the separation between Burgess’s brother, Sam, and his-ex wife, Phoebe.

George met Joanna in 2014 when he was playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

They were engaged two years later and share three children together, Boston, five, Birdie, four, and Blainey, three. 

George confirmed he had split from wife Joanna King (both pictured) in 2023 after seven years of marriage

Burgess was dressed casually for his night out in white pants, an olive T-shirt and a light blue buttoned shirt

The sports star was seen laughing while chatting to the women before puffing on his cigarette

The couple had navigated a whirlwind of challenges in recent years.

Burgess’ gambling addiction has been a matter of public record, and he has been open about attending rehab to help deal with it.

When he joined the Dragons after two years back home in England, he became the first man to play professional rugby league following hip resurfacing surgery.

But his comeback was overshadowed in March 2022 when he was charged with sexually touching another person without consent, after he went to a woman’s house to drop off a signed jersey for a charity event. 

He was later acquitted by a magistrate. 

Soon after, Burgess checked into a rehabilitation facility to deal with personal issues unrelated to the criminal charge.

He made two appearances for the Dragons’ NSW Cup side in August following his time away from the club.

Since 2019, Burgess has been dabbling in acting, a surprising career move for the sports star. He made his acting debut in thriller Locusts before landing a role in sci-fi thriller Ascendant in 2021.

A year later, Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe cast him in Land of the Bad, alongside Liam and Luke Hemsworth. 

On his Instagram, Burgess describes himself as an ‘actor’ and a ‘singer’. 

In January, he shared a teaser trailer for Spartacus: House of Ashur, revealing he has a part in the 2025 season.