The family matriarch supporting Sam Burgess through the toughest time of his life: How the 6'2" mother of rugby league's most famous family is leading the fight to defend him - after bombshell allegations about his failed marriage and wild partying ways

With the hood of her grey jumper over her head and sunglasses hiding her face, Julie Burgess did not look like someone you want to mess with as she emerged from crisis talks with embattled son Sam on Saturday night. 

Standing at over 190cm tall, the matriarch of rugby league's most famous family has a reputation - much like her four sons - for being a fierce competitor and is unashamedly defensive of her boys.

When Sam, 31, and Luke, 33, were out on the town at The Establishment in late 2018 at a farewell BBQ for a South Sydney Rabbitohs teammate, she was reportedly the only one who could drag them home.

Storming up to the concierge at the swanky hotel she demanded to know what room they were staying in, and as usual, the former high-school deputy headmaster known as 'Mrs B' got her way.

After an hour she managed to drag the boys 'by the ear' into her Hyundai Veloster and back to Sam's family mansion in Maroubra, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

While she managed to diffuse the situation that night, the Burgess family matriarch is now facing her toughest test to protect the family name, after bombshell allegations were made against her most famous son, Sam.

Julie Burgess leaves crisis talks in Sydney over the weekend after bombshell allegations about her son Sam's marriage and wild lifestyle were revealed in a newspaper report (Burgess' lawyer Bryan Wrench is pictured behind Mrs Burgess)

Sam and Phoebe split up in 2018 shortly after the birth of their second child, Billy. Allegations of Sam's behaviour during their marriage and his wild partying ways were published by The Australian last week, but the NRL star denies all allegations

Julie moved to Australia in 2012, following her four sons Sam , Luke, George and Tom who had become a crucial part of the South Sydney Rabbitohs side

When the four Burgess boys united for a drought breaking premiership in 2014, the first photo they took after the match saw their mum standing front and centre

In the wake of Sam's split from Phoebe becoming public in early 2019, she made her feelings clear.

Within hours, gone was her Facebook profile picture taken at the couple's wedding.

In its place was a photo of Mrs Burgess smiling with her four grandchildren. It was a very obvious message.

Sam and Phoebe broke up in December 2018, weeks after the birth of their son, Billy. 

The couple also have an older daughter, Poppy, and their divorce was finalised this April after four years of marriage. 

Sam was just 21 years old when he moved to Australia and joined the Rabbitohs.

The next year he was followed by his younger brother George, eldest brother Luke in 2011 and Tom that same year.

All alone at home in West Yorkshire, Mrs B joined her boys.

Just a few years earlier in 2007 she had lost her husband Mark after a long battle with motor neurone disease.  

With the hood of her grey jumper over her head and sunglasses hiding her face, Julie Burgess did not look like someone you want to mess with as she emerged from crisis talks with embattled son Sam

Sam denies all allegations levelled against him, which relate to an ongoing domestic violence court case involving him and ex-wife Phoebe's father Mitchell Hooke (Julie Burgess is pictured on the left, her eldest son Luke is at the front and lawyer Bryan Wrench can be seen at back)

Julie became one of South Sydney's most famous supporters as her four boys led the club to a drought breaking premiership in 2014. She is pictured with Hollywood legend and Rabbitohs' owner Russell Crowe

Despite her sons wealth, once in Sydney she took up a job at the elite Sydney private school Scots College.

When the four Burgess boys united for a drought breaking premiership in 2014, the first photo they took after the match saw their mum standing front and centre. 

Burgess was lured to rugby union that off-season and returned to England to play for Bath, but less than a year later would return to Australia to be close to family.

He was medically retired last October after a spate of injuries, but stayed working for the Rabbitohs as a development coach with the squad.

But in the wake of allegations revealed in The Australian newspaper last week, Sam stood down from his role.

He is also taking a break from his commentary commitments with Fox League.

Sam is currently facing charges of domestic violence against Phoebe's father Mitch Hooke, relating to an incident at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands last year. 

He is due to face court on Wednesday over the domestic violence charges and AVO.

Sam, Luke, George and Tom Burgess stand on either side of their mother Julie at the Dally M awards night in 2013