The 28-year-old has closely monitored his brother Sam's progress in the rival code to observe how he handled the intricacies of the game that has many more technicalities than league.

"It's definitely something that I've thought about," said Burgess ahead of Monday night's game against North Queensland at Brookvale Oval.

"I've always liked the idea of maybe playing some rugby in Japan, that's always seemed a pretty cool idea. You never know, it's a very complex game, rugby union, and it's something I don't really know too much about.

"So, if I was going to get serious [about switching over] I'd definitely have to learn it but as for now I'm really enjoying my time here at Manly. The lifestyle [of playing rugby in Japan] was the most appealing thing, I'd like to try all these cool things during my career ...  I don't want to get to the end of my career and think 'I wish'.

"We only get a short time and we have to try and do as much as we can in that period."

He has been heartened by the progress of younger brother Sam, who left South Sydney  to take up a lucrative deal tabled by the English Rugby Union after dominating last year's NRL grand final win over Canterbury despite suffering a fractured cheekbone early in the match.

After finding his feet in the game a number of English rugby figures believe he could force his way into England's squad for the upcoming World Cup. Bath boss Mike Ford sung his praises for the convert while Lawrence Dallaglio, a member of England's triumphant 2003 World Cup team, said Burgess had an "aura" about him.

Burgess was a member of England's 45-man World Cup squad that was training in high altitude in Denver, Colorado. The squad will be reduced when they return to England and Burgess said his brother had seemed more at home after he was moved from the centres to forwards.

"He's going pretty good in his first year," said Burgess. "[Bath] made the grand final but unfortunately got beaten," said Burgess. "While that was disappointing I know he's enjoying things at the minute,  he started off at inside centre and moved into the forwards where he's playing at No.6."

He gave the impression that he would not be fazed by the hard work in learning a new club when he pointed out of the four Burgess boys - himself, Sam, George and Tom - he had to work the hardest to make the grade.

"I have always had to work hard to get to get to where I am in rugby league, it never came naturally to me," he said.

"We were brought up in a rugby league - my mother and father played rugby league - so we were always going to follow that path."