Gerome Burns’ path to the NRL has ended before it ever truly began, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs confirming the 26-year-old has retired due to a serious knee injury.

Burns, who had been on a development contract this year and was due for a Top 30 promotion in 2026, made the call after failing to overcome damage sustained earlier in the season.

It is the second heartbreak in quick succession for the Bunnies after Ben Lovett also retired through injury just days earlier.

From Queensland prodigy to cruel ending

Burns’ story carried the hallmarks of persistence. A two-time Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year, he represented Queensland at Under-18 and Under-20 level before carving out six seasons in the Queensland Cup with the Souths Logan Magpies, Ipswich Jets and Norths Devils.

A brief stint at the Brisbane Broncos in 2020 was followed by a pre-season appearance for the Dolphins in 2024, keeping his dream alive.

Yet despite that body of work, the ultimate breakthrough never came. Burns bows out having never played an NRL fixture, an outcome neither he nor the Rabbitohs had envisaged when he signed as a mature-age recruit.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly praised the resilience shown by both Lovett and Burns in their respective battles. “I’d like to make special mention of Ben and Gerome, both whose careers will come to a premature end due to knee injuries which cannot be rehabilitated,” Solly said.

“They are shining examples to their teammates of the Rabbitohs spirit. They never gave up on their rehab journey with their knees, they gave everything of themselves to try and return to pull on the Rabbitohs jersey, but unfortunately, they have had to make the difficult decision to retire from the game they love.”

For Burns, it is a cruel finale to a career defined by promise, perseverance – and ultimately, unfulfilled potential.