Rhinos star Rob Burrow expects a heated encounter when Leeds take on Manly Sea Eagles in Friday's World Club Challenge.
Leeds half-back looking forward to Friday's showdown
Rhinos star Rob Burrow anticipates a highly charged encounter when Leeds take on Manly Sea Eagles in Friday's Big Soup World Club Challenge.
The 29-year-old-half-back said the old rivalry between England and Australia would add extra spice to the clash between the Super League and NRL champions at Headingley.
Burrow expects the match to be a tough one but said that he and his Leeds teammates were looking forward to pitting their wits against the best in the world.
"It's a massive game," he told
Sky Sports News. "It's Super League v the NRL and obviously England v Australia which always makes it that extra bit spicy.
"You're testing yourself against the best and the NRL competition has been quoted as the best in the world.
"It's always a good opportunity for us here in Super League to test our hand against the best. So it will be a real tough game but one we're really looking forward to."
Burrow admitted there will be plenty of banter between the teams out on the field but, despite the intense rivalry between the two nations, he insists that there is no real hostility amongst the players.
No malice
"There's no malice," he added. "It's all good. But everybody wants to win and the fact that it's England v Australia...
"In all sports England and Australia always like to beat each other so that as well makes it a great game and one we're really really looking forward to."
The Rhinos go into Friday's match on the back of a 20-6 defeat away at Wigan on Sunday.
But Burrow, who has spent his entire career at Leeds since joining the Rhinos Academy in 1998, said that the loss had not affected the teams preparations for the showdown against Manly.
"Obviously that was a bit of a downer for us, going to Wigan, and we would have liked to enter the game with two solid performances and two wins," said Burrow, who made his first team debut in 2001.
"That wasn't the case but we've put that game to bed now, we've been putting things right in training and all focus now is just on Manly."
After voicing frustration last month at his role as an impact player, Burrow has started both games for the Rhinos this season and hopes his days coming on from the subs bench are now over.
"It's great to be playing for a great club like Leeds Rhinos but certainly starting again this year is what I want to do," he said.
"Being on from the start of the game just gives me that extra bit of time to hopefully have an influence on the game. So yes, I'm enjoying it and hopefully that will continue."
