Short-fused Burns gets the best out of fledgling Rovers

It is fair to say the Australian stand-off has something of a short fuse and, if things are not going correctly out on the park, he is not afraid to let his colleagues know.

He may only have played a handful of games with them so far since joining from NRL club Penrith Panthers.

However, Burns is certainly not shy coming forward and has been spotted a few times blasting a player who, in his eyes, may not be quite up to speed.

“Every now again you’ve got to give these young fellas a bit of a spray,” he laughed, when talking to the Yorkshire Post.

“We’re a pretty good close-knit group and we can have that out on the field; they’ve got pretty thick skin and can take that.

“It’s probably not the best thing to do but I do lose my head a bit.

“I’ve always had that in my game and it’s probably not a good trait.

“But I can cop it back too. Dobbo (Michael Dobson) gave me a fair spray against Saints last week and in a game of footy it happens.”

If there is no “spraying” tomorrow it is likely to mean Rovers are faring well against the Super League champions Leeds Rhinos when they meet at Craven Park.

It is an intriguing fixture given the ingredients laid out; Rovers are still only on the edge of the play-off spots but are buoyant after defeating St Helens last week to reach the Challenge Cup last 16 and having also beaten the same opponents a fortnight ago.

Leeds, meanwhile, are unbeaten in six games but traditionally struggle in east Hull where they have come unstuck three times before in the last six years.

Burns, 29, is adamant how he sees Leeds saying: “They are a quality team and I honestly think they’re the best side in the comp’.

“I’ve watched a lot of footy since I’ve been over here and Leeds have got quality all over the park.

“If you don’t turn up against them you are going to get hurt.

“It is a good test for us. We’re just outside the eight and I think we can go on a pretty good run now.

“We’ve got a quality team here and the boys have just got to believe in themselves a bit more and realise we are up there with the top teams.

“We’ve got most of our boys back from injury now and a few more – Lincoln Withers, Ryan O’Hara and Sean Gleeson – to return who are three quality, starting footballers.

“Once we get those back in the team, fit and gelling, I really believe we can give this comp’ a bit of a shake.”

No disrespect to that trio but imperative to Hull KR’s chances of success is more keeping Burns out on the field.

Undoubtedly, when he and Dobson are in unison, they have a half-back pairing to control any contest with creativity in abundance.

Those Rovers fans ruing the loss of another Australian stand-off – Blake Green – to Wigan last year have soon been acquiesced by Burns’ input, his defensive ability an added strength for their cause.

However, he missed the first four games of the season having had to carry over a 12-match ban from his controversial time in Australia with Penrith.

Then, in only his fifth game for Rovers, he was suspended for two more games after a reckless high tackle on Ben Crooks during the Hull derby.

Suffering a shoulder injury in that win, he missed three matches in total before making a winning return in last week’s 26-18 victory over St Helens.

“I struggled a bit late on in that game with my fitness but that will come,” said the ex-Manly and North Queensland schemer.

“I was happy with that match. I’d not played for three weeks so felt a bit rusty but I’ve got to start nailing down a few consecutive games now to get back in my rhythm so, hopefully, I’ll be back fit for the rest of the year.

“It’s good over here and I’m enjoying playing in Super League.

“It was a tough start, coming over in the cold and snow from Australia where it was all sunny but it’s starting to warm up now and the pitches are drying out.

“We’re a team that plays what we see so when it’s dry you will see some good footy from this Hull KR side in the next few weeks.”

And what about Dobson giving him his own ear-bashing after kicking on the first tackle when Hull KR were so finely balanced against Saints last week?

“I didn’t even know it was six to go,” insisted Burns, shortly after Rovers had just regained the lead against their 12-men opponents.

“I said to him after – ‘ You think I’d kick it if I did?!’

“Things like that happen, though. It was a good win.

“We came through some adversity. Saints had scored two tries to take the lead after the break and could have run away with it but we got back in there and played some smart football.

“We got through to the next round (home to Wigan) which is the main thing and now we have to improve again against Leeds.

“Kevin Sinfield is a quality player – one of the best there is over here – and it’ll be good to test myself against him.

“But moreso we have to look after ourselves; our season starts again this week.”

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