Retired NRL star Sam Burgess has been photographed at an evangelical church on Queensland’s Gold Coast as he tries to turn his troubled personal life around.
Burgess was spotted in Metro Church on Sunday, two days after he was cleared by a judge of intimidating his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke.
‘I just met this legend Sam Burgess at Metro Church today,’ a fellow worshipper posted on Instagram with a picture of the pair.
‘Congrats to Sam on his first step on a new journey.’
A source close to Burgess, who for the past 18 months has been embroiled in a messy break-up with ex-wife Phoebe, said he was ‘keeping his head down’ and ‘making change’.
Metro Church at Varsity Lakes is part of the Pentecostal movement known as the Australian Christian Churches, which has about 375,000 followers.
‘Find rest, recovery, recharge and resurgence at Metro Church Gold Coast,’ the church promotes itself on its website.
NRL star Sam Burgess has been photographed at an evangelical church on Queensland’s Gold Coast as he tries to steady his troubled personal life. ‘Congrats to Sam on his first step on a new journey,’ a fellow worshipper posted on Instagram with a picture of the pair
Metro Church at Varsity Lakes is part of the Pentecostal movement known as the Australian Christian Churches, which has about 375,000 followers. ‘Find rest, recovery, recharge and resurgence at Metro Church Gold Coast,’ the church promotes itself on its website
‘I just met this legend Sam Burgess at Metro Church today,’ a worshipper posted on Instagram alongside a picture of him with the NRL star. Burgess left Sydney before a judge overturned his conviction for intimidating his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke last Friday
Burgess escaped the Sydney spotlight before a conviction for intimidating Mr Hooke was overturned by a New South Wales District Court judge last Friday.
He will face another court in May after allegedly being detected driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his children from Bowral on February 22.
Burgess was allegedly unlicensed while behind the wheel of his BMW X5 which was unregistered due to his failure to pay $1,200 in parking and traffic fines.
The 32-year-old has not spoken publicly about his conviction being overturned or how he will deal with the upcoming charges.
Burgess’s personal life has been in upheaval since his separation from wife Phoebe and his forced retirement due to a chronic shoulder injury in October 2019.
That same month the former South Sydney captain was accused by Mr Hooke of threatening him while visiting his two children at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands.
Sam Burgess (right) was cleared on March 19 of having intimidated his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke (left) in October 2019. The two men were involved in a confrontation at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands shortly after Burgess split from wife Phoebe (centre)
Burgess will face another court in May after allegedly being detected driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his children from Bowral on February 22. He is pictured earlier that month at court while defending a charge of intimidating his father-in-law
A year later The Australian newspaper published untested claims against Burgess of wild partying and domestic abuse during his marriage. He has denied the allegations.
Burgess watched Judge Mark Williams overturn his intimidation conviction at the District Court in Goulburn via audio visual link, as did Mr Hooke.
‘My firm view upon reading the evidence is that the Crown case was not established beyond reasonable doubt,’ Judge Williams ruled.
Burgess’s solicitor Bryan Wrench said outside court his client was relieved by the result.
‘This is the judgment he deserves,’ Mr Wrench said. ‘He never wanted this fight, but he had to fight to clear his name. He is innocent and finally he has been vindicated.’
Daily Mail Australia understands Burgess planned to spend at least a week out of Sydney following the decision and did not expect to be seen in public.
Metro Church is known for its ‘vibey music’ and ‘strong sense of community’ and ‘resonates with locals seeking meaning and not “religion”,’ according to a 2018 newspaper story.
‘Since launching on the Gold Coast in 2006, Metro Church has seen thousands of lives authentically changed for the better through its dynamic expression of Christian faith, hope & love,’ it states on its website.
Senior Metro Church pastors Jenny and Dave Gilpin (pictured) are lead ‘a fabulous team of pastors ready to greet you, make you feel at home and create a place that brings out the best in you and your future’
Senior pastors Jenny and Dave Gilpin lead ‘a fabulous team of pastors ready to greet you, make you feel at home and create a place that brings out the best in you and your future.’
‘We believe in seeing the gold in people and helping you (with all the help of the Holy Spirit) to be all God planned for you to be!’ the Metro website states.
‘Our aim is to be the greatest lifters of people ever!’
The Gilpins promote the teachings of Jesus Christ as ‘the spirit of grace and not finger-pointing and accusation (that is currently running rampant across the earth).’
‘It’s the lover of victims and the saviour of perpetrators,’ they state. ‘It’s the heart of forgiveness and the giver of fresh starts and new beginnings!’
Burgess and Metro Church have been contacted for comment.
