Penrith’s halves are one of the more underrated pairings in the NRL, but Travis Burns has full confidence in how far his combination with Luke Walsh can get the Panthers this season.
Burns says when he and his halfback get things right, Penrith win matches.
The tenacious No.6 believes he’s made his best ever start to a season, and says in their third season playing together, he and Walsh can be the difference for the inconsistent Panthers.
However, seeing the mountain men home in close contests is now their aim, given the Panthers have surrendered leads in the final 10 minutes to lose to Canterbury in round one and in heartbreaking circumstances last week against Cronulla.
Journeyman Burns made his NRL debut for Manly against Penrith back in 2005, and on Monday night at Brookvale Oval, the 28-year-old is determined to dismantle his former team as a Panther who always wears his heart on his sleeve.
“When me and Luke are playing well, when we come off the field and we’ve both combined well, nine times out of 10 we get the win,” Burns told AAP.
“We’re a big part of our success … me and Luke know that and our linkage is something we work at consistently, and working through game plans until we know what the other wants and what we need to do to get the win.
“It’s a work in progress … if you look at our games we should be four out of five if we win those tight games.
“For us to be successful I think me and Luke have got to bring some consistency into our game.”
Burns has scored four tries this year, the most of any five-eighth in the competition, and statistically he’s been right up there with the best of them.
Last weekend Burns had several of his good mates from Manly over for his son’s first birthday, but on Monday he wants nothing more than to bring them down.
The defending premiers don’t often lose four straight matches and Burns is wary of the wounded Sea Eagles who are fighting to stop the rot.
Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran is in doubt with a hamstring injury, but Burns is hoping for a chance to test himself against the New Zealand international.
“I think personally it’s been my best start to a season since I’ve been in the NRL, so I’m happy with my form at the moment, but in saying that I’ve got a lot to work on,” he said.
“I haven’t played many games at Brookie since I left. I have a lot of friends in the Manly area … you always want to play well when you’re playing your old team, it brings the best out in you.
“They’re going to be tough, they’ve got a great side. They haven’t won two comps in the last five years for no reason. We’re going to expect a real tough game.”