George Burgess says he highly doubts his elder brother, Sam, will reverse his decision to retire, but he acknowledges there is a possibility the former South Sydney Rabbitohs skipper may "get the itch again".

At the age of 30, Sam Burgess announced his injury enforced retirement last October, revealing a chronic shoulder problem had essentially taken the decision out of his hands.

New South Wales Blues coach Brad Fittler reacted to the news by suggesting Burgess was likely to return to the NRL after a break.

When George Burgess was asked whether his sibling might be tempted to make a comeback following a few months' rest, he told Omnisport: "Maybe not a few months. Maybe [in] three years he might get the itch again.

"But we'll see. It wouldn't surprise me, but I would doubt it highly."

In an interview with Super League's 'Out of Your League' podcast released last week, Sam Burgess discussed his shoulder problem and said: "It just got to a point where my quality of life was terrible."

The cross-code star also revealed a doctor had told him he had "never seen a shoulder as bad", as he wrote off any chance of a playing return.

#OutOfYourLeague podcast is back!!! And what a guest we have #SuperLeague @SamBurgess8 joins @willperryTV, @Mark_Flash_Flan & Wilkin for the first episode of series 2
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) January 28, 2020

Asked how Sam was finding retirement, George - who is now with Wigan Warriors in the Super League - replied: "He's enjoying it. His body's thanking him for the rest, I think.

"He's just enjoying his next chapter as a retired player and I think he'll do some cool things."