Sam Burgess could make a return to the NRL after he was cleared by police of domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Phoebe.
Phoebe had accused Burgess of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse during their marriage, which ended in acrimony in late 2019.
The allegations were published in The Australian newspaper in October last year and denied vehemently by Burgess at the time.
NSW Police investigated the allegations for twelve months before announcing in October this year that no action would be taken against Burgess.
The end of the investigation means that Burgess could make a return to South Sydney - after he stood down from a development coach role with the team to address the allegations.
Sam Burgess could make a return to the NRL after he was cleared by police of domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Phoebe
Phoebe had accused Burgess of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse during their marriage, which ended in acrimony in late 2019
He will only be allowed to return once the NRL finishes its own investigation into the accusations.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the investigation was likely to wrap up before the end of the year.
'Obviously the police have made an announcement that they are not taking any criminal action against him,' he said.
'We now have to conclude our investigation which involves getting that information and then we will be in a position to finalise that.
'I don't believe there are too many outstanding elements to that so it is something we would like to bring to a close.'
Burgess has already made plans to fill in as coach for the Orara Valley Axemen next season.
'I've always found that I've not really done things the traditional way and I didn't want to start my coaching career as an assistant coach, I want to be a head coach eventually,' he previously said.
'So I figured I'll learn a lot more in this role at Orara Valley as a head coach managing all the different dynamics within a team,' Burgess said.
Having spent more than 12 months looking at the claims New South Wales Police confirmed their investigation into Burgess was over in a 12-word statement.
'Following extensive inquiries, no further police action is expected to be taken,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
Burgess's solicitor Chris Murphy first revealed NSW Police had closed its investigation into his client in a Twitter post on October 20.
'Re media claims against my client Sam Burgess by ex,' he wrote.
'NSW Police Operational Legal Advice unit just recommended no criminal prosecution(s) be preferred against Sam Burgess in relation to these allegations.
'That now concludes this investigation.'
The allegations against Burgess were published in The Australian newspaper in October last year and denied vehemently by Burgess at the time. Sam and Phoebe are pictured in 2016
Burgess was cleared in March of having intimidated his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke during a confrontation at the Hooke family's Southern Highlands home in October 2019. Phoebe is pictured with her father and Burgess
Mr Murphy's firm has acted for Burgess through a series of legal matters the former Souths captain has faced over the past 12 months.
'Much hurt and harm has been done to Sam Burgess,' he wrote on Twitter in a follow-up post.
'He has been damaged. He wants the public to be made aware that allegations have been thoroughly examined and at length by NSW Police and there is nothing for him to be called to answer.'
The original reports in The Australian followed 'a four-month investigation' and included statements from Phoebe and her father Mitchell Hooke.
The newspaper said the reports relied upon 'pharmaceutical records, sworn statements to NSW Police, statutory declarations and
