Inspired South Sydney teammates are convinced rugby-bound Sam Burgess is on a mission to "go out with a bang" and lead the Rabbitohs to NRL premiership glory.
Burgess is the form forward in the competition, trailing only influential halfbacks Johnathan Thurston and Ben Hunt in the league's player of the year count, and Souths captain John Sutton has no doubt the big Englishman's looming cross-code switch is a driving motivation.
Burgess shocked Rabbits fans in February with his decision to leave the club at the end of 2014 with two years remaining on his contract.
Hoping to feature in next year's Rugby World Cup in his homeland, Burgess will leave his three brothers behind in Sydney to link up with Bath in the English Premiership.
But Sutton senses Burgess is hell bent on helping Australian rugby league's most successful club to their first grand final triumph in 43 years before he goes.
"He probably does realise he's only got half a season left and he really wants to go out with a bang," Sutton said ahead of Souths' clash with Gold Coast on Monday night.
"He's had a tremendous year. He's really knuckled down and just worried about footy this year and I don't think there's a player better than him at the moment.
"The work he gets through for a big fella is unbelievable. He turns up every week for us and hopefully we can see a bit more of what he can do this weekend."
Back-rower Jason Clark hailed Burgess as his "role model" - on field and off - and veteran winger Lote Tuqiri agreed the English Test star was inspiring teammates to take their own games to another level.
"He's had a great year and we've just gotten on the back of him and George (Burgess) as well," Tuqiri said on Friday.
"They've both had probably their best so far (at Souths) and Sammy's just picked it up and run with it.
"He wants to really finish here on a good note - and a high note - and he's encouraging everyone to go with him as well.
"Not only on the field, but off the field, he's been a really big voice. He's been doing extras and everything right.
"He's been unbelievable."
While Souths' heavyweight rivals have to battle through the eight-week rep season without their stars, Tuqiri said having Burgess on deck was gold for the Rabbitohs.
"We often have the chat about what he'd do if he played State of Origin and what-not," he said.
"To have him here when guys like Greg Inglis and the like are gone is sensational."
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