Cup king Burrows learning from the waiting game
TRANSITIONING from goto man at Yorkshire Carnegie to Newcastle new boy has been tough to take at times, admits Ryan Burrows, but the barnstorming No.8 is happy that his patience is finally starting to pay off.
While restricted to just one bench appearance in the Premiership since he joined the club from Yorkshire Carnegie in the summer, Burrows has been an important figure in the Falcons’ march to the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
The 29-year-old has played in every game and a 50-metre sprint to the line in last Sunday’s 64-7 rout of Russian minnows EniseiSTM served as a reminder of the form that saw him nominated as Championship Player of the Year in his swansong season at level two.
“It’s been difficult to take at times because I’ve been used to playing week-in week-out, but what it has done is allowed me to improve on my weaknesses. It has also meant I am match fit when I do get my opportunities rather than carrying little niggles from week to week,” the Yorkshireman said.
“A lot of my work has been around defence. Being big and strong helps you get away with quite a lot in the Championship, but there’s a lot of guys in the Premiership who are quick and agile and have got good feet, so I’ve worked on my tackle technique and positioning quite a bit; one mistake at this level can cost you a game.
“I’ve still got a long way to go yet but I am making improvements and I think I am slowly getting there.”
Burrows’ Premiership experience amounts to a 12Nations minute cameo in the Christmas win over Quins, but he takes encouragement from how fellow back-rower and Championship ‘graduate’ from Jersey Reds, Gary Graham, has shone since stepping out of the shadows.
“I’ve not had as much Premiership exposure as I’d have liked but I am putting my hand up slowly with the performances I’ve put in so far. There is a lot of competition in the back row – you’ve got Mark Wilson and Nili Latu who are both internationals and Gary Graham, who I’m hoping will get into the Six squad after his callup to the England training squad – so it is a hotly-contested position.
“Gary is a very humble and honest guy and he probably turned up this year under no illusions that he’d have to wait to play first-team rugby.
“Guys like myself have to take a look at that because he is one of those who, when he got his chance, has taken it.
“His consistency has led to an England training callup which shows the pathway is there for players who take their opportunities.”