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Leeds Rhinos: It's Super competitive - Burrow
WHOEVER wins engage Super League this year will be worthy champions, Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow believes.
Burrow is now in his ninth season in Rhinos' senior squad and he reckons this is the toughest campaign yet.
Rhinos take on Hull at KC Stadium tonight in a game which, on paper, they will be favourites to win comfortably. But Burrow said it is impossible to predict how any match will go this year.
"You expect every team to be good against Leeds, especially when we're champions," said Burrow.
"But looking at other games, I am rubbish at calling winners – I just can't see it. You think a team should run up a scoreline against a certain team and the other team ends up winning.
"That's how it should be. It is tougher than ever and that's how the lads prefer it.
"We haven't played fantastic all year, but it's great it is so competitive – it's the best thing for Super League and rugby league in England.
"The more good teams there are, the better it is.
"You'd like to know you're going to win every week, but at least you deserve the wins you do get."
Rhinos have won six of their last seven matches and Burrow feels they can be pleased with that.
"You'd like to be at your best every week, but that's not possible with so many good teams," he said.
"We are seeing a lot of upsets this year, so you have to be happy with your wins, whether it's by two points or 20 points.
"Every win is precious. It hasn't been pretty at times, but we have been getting the job done and if we can keep improving, hopefully we'll have the same end as the last two years.
"In the last two games especially, we have shown some really good glimpses. We're not yet a full 80-minute team, but we've shown some signs that the team's playing better now and we're looking to improve again this week."
Ninth-placed Hull have won only three of their last 13 games.
They were out-played at Headingley Carnegie in May, but Burrow warned: "We can't take anything for granted – we never judge teams on their league form.
"We know they will be good, teams always raise their game against us.
Rise
"Hull will be up for the game and it's up to us to match our performances from recent weeks and hopefully rise in certain areas as well.
"We aren't reading anything into what happened last time we played them. It will be a normal game at the KC, really tough. They will be looking to try and kick-start their year and finish on a high by beating teams like us."
Boss Brian McClennan has hailed Burrow's recent form and the player described himself as "pretty happy" with the way he has played since returning from a dead leg.
"This year has been a bit stop-start, I feel like I've been in and out of the team with niggling injuries," he said.
"I've got my leg right now, my back's okay and I want to finish on a high.
"I want to keep improving, so come the end of the year I am playing better than I have been all season."
Meanwhile, Rhinos Academy play Hull at Stanningley tomorrow, kick-off 1pm.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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