Burrow eager for Rhinos return after torrid time for holders

The England Elite Training Squad hooker has missed the last two matches due to a shoulder injury but is hoping to return against London Broncos at Headingley Carnegie today.

His presence will provide a real lift for the West Yorkshire club as they seek to avoid a fourth successive defeat.

Struggling Leeds have lacked penetration in recent games, notching just four tries in 240 minutes of football.

Captain Kevin Sinfield’s impressive 50-game scoring run even came to an end in Good Friday’s surprise 12-4 loss at Bradford Bulls.

Burrow’s invention and pace should certainly help remedy their creative ills against Super League’s joint-bottom club but he is not under-estimating the talents of their opponents.

“London played really well against us last year and beat us twice,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“We need to be at our best as we know what they can do.

“They have been up and down but had some really good results, beating Wakefield 36-0 last week, and brought some great players in this year who pose real dangers.”

Burrow is “optimistic” he will be passed fit to augment Leeds in what will be his 250th start in blue and amber colours.

England colleague Danny McGuire is also nearing a return after a hamstring problem.

“Nobody wants to miss games and, obviously, the last few haven’t gone too good,” added Burrow,

“But, before that, the last game I played in we lost as well so I just want to get out there again; nobody likes watching.”

Rhinos have lost at St Helens – where the dynamic 29 year-old was injured – against Huddersfield Giants and at an emotional Odsal when Bradford, battling for survival given severe financial hardship, produced a suitably stirring victory over their fierce rivals.

Given those dramatic circumstances – the fixture was dubbed as potentially the last in Bradford’s history – it almost seemed the spirited hosts, who drew level with Leeds in sixth spot, were destined to win.

“I don’t think that was the case,” insisted Burrow.

“Leeds defended really, really well. Conditions made it a scrappy game for both sides but we were unlucky with both tries at the end,

“They came from a couple of bounces off kicks and I thought it might be something like that which would see them score.

“But it was a big night for Bradford and all credit to them; they got a win when they needed it.”