Fairfax Media revealed before the current Four Nations tournament that the NRL punching ban would not apply either here or at the 2017 World Cup, but the rules were not put to the test until Burgess threw one at Australia's David Klemmer on Sunday.

Since then, Burgess has been held up as a shining example of how things were better before the punching ban was instituted in 2014.

But Inglis, recounting a text conversation between the pair on Sunday night, said: "That's definitely something he doesn't want to be."

"Knowing Sam, he actually said he's disappointed in himself because he's trying to be a role model for the kids growing up watching us.

"We want to be good role models. Sam plays the game hard, he plays aggressive and he's just disappointed."

Inglis also defended Burgess over his attack on referee Robert Hicks, whom he accused of deliberately evening the penalty count and questioned whether he had an "agenda".

"It's obviously a very proud tournament for Sam, being handed the captaincy for England," said Inglis, speaking at the Australian team's Shoreditch hotel.

"I know how much he loves his country and I know how much he's been working on himself as as a person.

"The tournament didn't go England's way … but in terms of him saying whatever he's saying in the press conference, he's obviously just frustrated."

Inglis' campaign is underpinned by the birth of his second daughter Quinnsy Bella. "I want to play well here and just get back home," he said.

"I'm counting down the days, yes. I'm starting to really miss the family. It's hard when you've got a three-week-old baby at home. It's hard when you've got a new born baby girl and you've got to go to Perth and then you've got to come straight over here.

"There's a lot of FaceTime [video calls] happening. There's a lot of photos going on. "

Sam Thaiday and Inglis both underwent concussion tests after a similar head clash incidents.

The former Golden Boot winner acknowledged that James Graham, involved in the Thaiday incident, seems to cause a lot of damage with his head.

"Sam Burgess got one [a facial injury after a collision with Graham] in '14 and now Sam Thaiday," said Inglis.

"Look, I don't think it's an issue. I think it's just the way James Graham is. He's an enforcer for obviously Canterbury and obviously for England.

"It's just one of those incidents that happen. It's a body contact sport."

Meanwhile, New Zealand appear likely to play back rower Tohu Harris at five-eighth following Thomas Leuluai's broken jaw. Utility Lewis Brown said Te Maire Martin, who has played just six NRL games, also trained in the position on Monday.

Harris's Melbourne clubmate, Cooper Cronk, commented: "I suppose he has that ability to play in different positions but I think they also have some depth in their squad.

"Tohu, I know first hand, is an elite player no matter what number he has on the back of his jersey so we'll cater for whatever team New Zealand throw at us."

Cronk said the Kiwis, despite their patchy form this year - just the one win against England - remained "the best team in the world at the moment".

"There's no doubt about that," Melbourne's Cronk said. "They have class across that field., They've got the best player in the NRL from this season (Jason Taumalolo), they've got Jesse Bromwich who's the best prop, they've got Shaun Johnson who's electric on his best day."