Sheffield Eagles: Burns brothers target joint outing

After the Sheffield Eagles Academy dissolved, Paddy departed to Castleford leaving the possibility of joining older brother Greg in the senior ranks as a goal left incomplete.

Greg, now a fixture in the first-team, thought his sibling partnership would end at reserve team level, but Paddy’s return to the Steel City has reopened the door for a family alliance.

“It’s great to see Paddy back,” Greg explained to The Star.

“I came through the ranks here with him, and played with him in the reserves, so it will be nice if it happens down the line to play alongside my brother in the first-team.

That would be great. It will be a good experience I’m sure, and one we are looking forward to if and when it happens.

“When he came back from France he wasn’t too sure what the next step would be, but Tubbs (Mark Aston) wanted him back and it has worked out really well for him.”

With Paddy being primed for a potential debut in the recent game against Leigh, the Burns partnership was put on ice for at least a fortnight after red tape denied the Eagles his selection.

In Paddy’s absence, it was a frustrating afternoon for Greg as Leigh ran riot in the first-half leading to the Eagles hooker to state they cannot afford another slow start this Sunday if they want to return to winning ways at Rochdale.

“I suppose we were punished after what was a slow start,” he added.

“Leigh are a good side, and you cannot afford to do that against a team like that. It cost us because in the second half we turned it around but the damage had already been done.

“We have to make sure we start better against Rochdale which will give us a chance for a different outcome.

“We have been winning recently, and that has improved the mood in the camp, everyone seems much happier on the training ground.

Despite what happened against Leigh, it still feels like we have some momentum behind us, and we need to get back on that roll.”

Kick off this Sunday at Spotland is 3pm.