His late father, Mark Burgess who died of Motor neurone disease, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet;[3] whilst his mother Julie is a teacher, currently employed at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.

He attended Heckmondwike Grammar School to receive a secondary education before becoming a professional rugby league footballer.

At the end of the 2008 season, Burgess became the inaugural winner of the Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the Year Award, presented by the leading trade newspaper, Rugby Leaguer & League Express.

[6] On 21 June 2011 it was confirmed that Luke had signed for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, joining brothers Sam and George at the club who play in the Australian NRL.

It was alleged that a doorman working at an Arizona bar had told Burgess and South Sydney captain John Sutton to leave as they were intoxicated.