Burns brothers offer Eagles hope for future

While the Australian side is well on the way to having all four of the famous Dewsbury-born siblings represent them in the NRL, something similar is developing in the less heralded South Yorkshire.

Sheffield head coach Mark Aston has long championed the work his club are doing developing young talent, just recently praising the impact of prop Eddie Battye who impressed against London Broncos and is set to feature in this evening’s Northern Rail Cup final.

However, there is a trio of Sheffield-raised brothers all hoping to make their mark soon too.

Paddy, Gregg and Jonathan Burns have all come through the ranks at local community club, Hillsborough Hawks and now in various squads at the Eagles.

Jonathan is playing for the Sheffield Hallam Eagles side, the club’s reserve team, while 18-year-old Greg is progressing for the Eagles Academy in the Super League Under 19s competition..

Finally, Paddy – the youngest of the trio – is supplementing his development at Hillsborough Under 15s on the Eagles Scholarship programme in the hope of earning a professional contract.

Sheffield community and performance manager Darren Higgins said: “The Burns brothers are highly thought of within the club.

“Not only are they products of the Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks club but they have also benefited from the work the Eagles have been doing in local and higher education for a number of years.

“All of this underpins our youth performance pathway and to have three brothers, all developing at different stages of our player pathway, is quite unique.”

Meanwhile, Sheffield’s fearsome Papua New Guinea centre Menzie Yere has signed a one-year contract extension ahead of tonight’s final against Leigh Centurions.

He has scored 105 tries in 133 games since joining in 2009, 32 of those coming already this term.

Aston said: “It’s great we’ve agreed this new deal as Menzie’s in good form and his fitness is getting better and better.

“He might be known for his big hits and drives but he’s an all-round performer, a great asset to the squad and a character too.”