Burgess set for final fling

Burgess: NRL switch

I sense a bit of belief among the boys. I think it all started to come from the second half against the Aussies.

Sam Burgess
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Sam Burgess believes England are capable of pulling off a shock victory in Saturday's Gillette Four Nations final against Australia at Elland Road.

The match will be Burgess' last on English soil for the foreseeable future as he prepares to embark on a career in the NRL with South Sydney.

The Bradford Bulls forward has signed a four-year deal with Russell Crowe's Rabbitohs and, with the next Four Nations series scheduled for the southern hemisphere, his next appearance on English soil is likely to be in 2011 at the earliest.

"It's going to be a pretty emotional time," he said. "It's probably the biggest game I've ever played and what a way to go out of England for a time.

"I'm looking forward to it, it would be nice to go to Australia with a winners' medal."

Form

After a comparatively disappointing domestic season with the Bulls, Burgess caught the eye with a blockbusting substitute appearance against the Kangaroos in England's 26-16 defeat at Wigan a fortnight ago.

He also impressed in last Saturday's 20-12 win over New Zealand but the 20-year-old utility forward believes there is more to come from him and he is hoping he has saved his best for last.

"I've been ok with my form," he added. "It's not been fantastic but I've been steadily improving and hopefully I can put together one of my best performances of the year."

After making his Test debut as an 18-year-old in Great Britain's 3-0 whitewash of the Kiwis in 2007, Burgess experienced an international defeat for the first time in that match at the DW Stadium.

He is confident England can gain their revenge over the Kangaroos at Elland Road, even though they will no longer have the element of surprise.

"They will probably know what to expect from us and I think it is going to be a lot tougher than it was two weeks ago," he said.

"I sense a bit of belief among the boys. I think it all started to come from the second half against the Aussies.

"I don't know if they were in their top form in that second half but it brought us belief in the camp. I expect them to be tough, as they always are, and we've got to be up for that.

Challenge

"With our forward pack, we're going pretty big and we'll look forward to that challenge.

"It's a final and there is a lot to play for. Whoever improves the most will win it. I believe as a team we can do it."

After his explosive impact from the bench at Wigan, Burgess was promoted to the starting line-up against the Kiwis and he is hoping to get the nod from coach Tony Smith to start the final when he announces his team on Thursday.

"Everybody wants to start," he said. "Against the Aussies I came off the bench and I was a bit gutted about that.

"I don't know where I'm playing yet but I'd love to be starting. Against New Zealand, Tony told me just go out there and get stuck in. I tried to play my normal game and hopefully I did that for him."