Pairing with Dobson offers Burns chance to fulfil long-time ambition

The stand-off may have won NRL rookie of the year when playing for Manly Sea Eagles in 2006 but that promise never developed into State of Origin or Australia Test success.

Any lingering hopes were abandoned when he moved to Super League last winter so featuring for the Exiles tonight is a real fillip for the talented 29-year-old.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Burns said: “Coming up through the schools I played for Queensland but never got any rep’ games in once I turned pro.

“Then, for an Australian coming here, you think your opportunity to ever play rep’ football has gone so it’s a real honour to be picked for the Exiles.

“It’s a great concept and I’m going to be doing my best to get this win against England.”

Exiles coach Brian McClennan has paired Burns together with his Robins club colleague Michael Dobson at half-back in a combination he hopes will fire the Anzac side to glory.

“We haven’t actually played a lot of football together,” he admitted, with Burns’s suspensions and Dobson’s injuries limiting their game time.

“But I think we are improving each week and you can see that now. We’ve really turned a corner at Hull KR recently and that partnership is helping to do that.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries but we’re starting to get a couple of troops back and that continuity is beginning to show on the field.”

Indeed, Hull KR have won three of their last four games to rise into the play-off spots with prop Mickey Paea a third Robin named in the Exiles squad tonight.

Burns was particularly impressive in the victory over second-placed Huddersfield Giants a week ago, scoring two tries as they staged a brilliant second-half comeback.

But now he said: “I’m looking forward to linking up with a lot of old mates from back in the NRL.

“Everyone respects each other and the spirit in the camp has been great.

“Now we’re just keen to put all the week’s work into practice against England.”