South Sydney Rabbitohs great Samuel Burgess will plead not guilty to driving unlicensed, a Sydney court has been told.
The former NRL premiership winner's lawyer Bryan Wrench told Waverley Local Court on Wednesday there were "unusual circumstances" surrounding Burgess' licence suspension.
"It was an arbitrary decision by the RMS (Roads and Maritime Services)," Mr Wrench told the court.
"He was suspended for matters that were some three years old."
Burgess did not know he was driving without a licence, the lawyer said.
Mr Wrench claimed there appeared to be a "vendetta" against Burgess, pointing to a transcript of a press conference by former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance.
Mr Constance was allegedly referring to Burgess when he said "we're going to do everything to get him legally off the road" at a 2021 press conference, the lawyer told the court.
Burgess, a Rabbitohs assistant coach, was pulled over by the police and drug tested when they alleged he was driving while suspended.
Mr Wrench "happily" confirmed the drug tests, including a hair test, returned negative.
"Sam is completely drug free, he's completely reformed," he told reporters outside court.
Burgess will face the court on February 1, 2024.
The hearing may require Mr Constance, Mr Wrench added.
