Retired NRL star Sam Burgess has been pictured with his son Billy, two, on Instagram for the first time in months.
The last time the former South Sydney Rabbitohs player, 32, uploaded a photo with his children to his official Instagram account was back in December.
It comes amid a troubling past few months for Sam who is attempting to turn his life around, after his messy split with ex-wife Phoebe Burgess, 31.
Rare family photo: NRL star Sam Burgess, 32, shared this rare family photo with son Billy, two, to his Instagram Stories on Wednesday… as he attempts to turn around his troubled personal life after his messy split from ex-wife Phoebe Burgess
In the photo shared to Instagram Stories and captioned with love heart emojis, a casually dressed Sam is seen nestling in close to Billy on the couch.
Billy smiles at the camera and places one arm on his father’s chest.
Sam also shares daughter Poppy, four, with Phoebe. They married in 2015 and split for a second time in October 2019.
Private: The last time the former South Sydney Rabbitohs player uploaded a photo with his children to his official Instagram account was back in December. Pictured: ex-wife Phoebe, 31, Billy, and the former couple’s daughter Poppy, four
Last month, Sydney-based Sam was pictured at an evangelical church on the Gold Coast.
He was spotted on March 21 in the Metro Church, 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.’
Turning his life around: Last month, Sydney-based Sam was pictured at an evangelical church on the Gold Coast. ‘I just met this legend Sam Burgess at Metro Church today,’ a fellow worshipper posted on Instagram with a picture of the pair (seen above)
A source close to Sam said he was ‘keeping his head down’ and ‘making change’.
He was also spotted last month with a bodybuilding pastor from an evangelical church, walking to a Hyundai hatchback registered to Metro Church after getting coffee at a Nobby’s Beach cafe.
He has been spending time training with friend and spiritual adviser, Rob Quatro, who has introduced him to the Pentecostal faith, although at this stage Sam is just an interested observer.
Turning over a new leaf: A source close to Sam said he was ‘keeping his head down’ and ‘making change’
He was recently cleared on appeal of intimidating his former father-in-law, Mitch Hooke.
A conviction for intimidating Mr Hooke was overturned by a New South Wales District Court judge.
He will face court again 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.
Cleared: He was recently cleared on appeal of intimidating his former father-in-law, Mitch Hooke (pictured). A conviction for intimidating Mr Hooke was overturned by a New South Wales District Court judge
Court date: He will face court again 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. Pictured playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in April 2012
Sam 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.
He has not spoken publicly about his conviction being overturned or how he will deal with the upcoming charges.
Sam’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, Sam was accused by Mr Hooke of threatening him while visiting his two children at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands.
Upheaval: Sam’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
A year later, The Australian newspaper published untested claims against Sam of wild partying and domestic abuse during his marriage. He has denied the allegations.
Sam 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.
Sam’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.’
‘He is innocent and finally he has been vindicated’: Sam watched Judge Mark Williams overturn his intimidation conviction at the District Court in Goulburn via audio visual link, as did Mr Hooke