Phoebe Burgess details the harrowing aftermath of her split with NRL star husband Sam

Phoebe Burgess has opened up in a candid interview, revealing the harrowing aftermath of her split from her NRL star husband Sam Burgess. 

Speaking to this week’s Stellar Magazine, the former journalist, 31, said there are days she wants to ‘break down’ but the support of her family – and motherhood, has been her saving grace.  

‘Motherhood is something I took for granted for so long. I mean, some days it was a real inconvenience,’ she told the magazine. 

‘But in the past 18 months, it’s literally been everything. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I haven’t checked out. 

‘I have days when I want to give up and fall apart and I just want to break; I want to go to sleep and not wake up for a while, for everything to stop, but you can’t.’

She added: ‘It sounds awful but being trapped in motherhood and being trapped in responsibility has saved my life. [My children] are my purpose, and when you have that purpose nothing can drag you away from them.’ 

Phoebe went on to say she was still ‘in a daze’ after her marriage breakdown, and says she’s experienced, ‘a lot of pain, a lot of trauma, a lot of ugly stuff’ that has changed her.

However she has relied on her family – parents Sarah and Mitch Hooke – as well as her sisters, Harriet and Jemima, building an ‘idyllic’ and ‘beautiful little life’ at the picturesque rural estate. 

Elsewhere in the interview, Phoebe’s mother Sarah tells the magazine is astounded by Phoebe’s strength, and despite the awful circumstances, she has relished watching her grandchildren grow up at her home. 

On the cover, Phoebe posed with her sisters, Sarah and Harriet, and inside, with her mother, her daughter Poppy, and the new family dog – a dachshund named Banjo.  

Phoebe moved to her parents’ estate in Bowral, in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands, ninety minutes southwest of Sydney, following her split from Sam, 32. 

She lives at the property with her mother and father, as well as her children – daughter, Poppy, four, and son, Billy, two. 

Sam and Phoebe split in October 2019, after four tumultuous years of marriage.   

They had initially separated in December 2018 – shortly after the birth of their son, Billy – but reconciled in April, only to end things for good six months later.  

Phoebe reportedly walked away with 70 per cent of the marital wealth after divorcing Sam.  

As part of the divorce settlement, Phoebe has also taken ownership of a white SDVA Range Rover, valued at $100,000, which she is regularly seen driving around Bowral. 

Sam’s F45 gym in Bowral was put into Phoebe’s name following their divorce as well.

Phoebe, who has more than 80,000 followers on Instagram, typically spends her days uploading sponsored posts for fashion and beauty brands.

She makes up to $1,300 per sponsored post, according to a website that estimates influencers’ earnings based on their followers and engagement levels.   

Phoebe has made her home at her parents’ stunning limestone residence, which  features high ceilings throughout, large living areas, a formal dining room, two offices, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a timber kitchen.

It also boasts a formal entrance lobby, media room, covered outdoor entertainment area and large double garage.

Phoebe’s horse-loving family also owns a state-of-the-art stable complex and timber-railed paddock area.

A vegetable garden and chicken run offer hours of entertainment for Phoebe’s kids, with the mother-of-two recently uploading an Instagram photo of her children planting strawberries.

The property’s landscaped rose garden and manicured hedging also offer the perfect backdrop for Phoebe’s many Instagram photo shoots.

While Phoebe recovers in Bowral, Sam was embroiled in a series of legal woes following the breakdown of his marriage. 

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 another court 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.

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 the former South Sydney captain was accused by Mr Hooke of threatening him while visiting his two children at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands.    

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.’

On October 2, 2020,  Sam formally stood down from his coaching role at the South Sydney Rabbitohs after untested claims about his marriage and wild lifestyle were published in The Australian. He has denied the allegations.