Surgeries delay GI's return to training

South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis has gone under the knife a couple of times as the club prepares for the start of pre-season training next week.

Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold will oversee the comeback of a group of players from the NRL squad on Monday but the skipper will not be among them as he is recuperating from two surgeries to fix his upper arm, shoulder and neck.

"GI is on leave and recovering from two operations," Seibold told NRL.com.

"So he won't be back along with many senior players due to leave entitlements. It is only the younger contingent starting on Monday."

Inglis also has a court appearance on November 22 in Lithgow, on low-range drink driving and speeding charges after he played in the Koori Knockout on grand final weekend.

That cost the 31-year-old two Tests and the Australian captaincy.

Other absentees on Monday include the Burgess twins, Tom and George, who are in England on national team duty, although George has been suspended from the third Test against New Zealand at Leeds on Sunday (Monday 2.15am AEDT).

Sam Burgess is also recovering from wrist and shoulder surgeries, that had him withdraw from Wayne Bennett's squad to face the Kiwis.

Hooker Damien Cook and centre Dane Gagai are still on holidays after playing in the Kangaroos' two Tests against New Zealand and Tonga in October.

Despite signing a four-year deal with Brisbane from 2020, Seibold will be in charge when Souths begin their off-season campaign after stating publicly several times over the past week that he intends to fulfil his contract for next season. 

One of the many football questions on Seibold's plate is who will fill the No.12 jersey vacated by Angus Crichton, who has left for the Roosters.

The coach is contemplating putting Sam Burgess back on that right edge, which could give him more play-making flexibility than getting bashed up the middle as prop or lock.

"Sam, Cam Murray and Dean Britt are all possible options to fill Angus's position," Seibold said.

Burgess played only one of his 23 games during the 2018 Telstra Premiership season in the second row - the round-13 win over Cronulla.