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Burt living NRL life on the edge
By Ben Horne AAP Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:32:32
Parramatta stalwart Luke Burt would prefer not to be living his NRL life on the edge, but admits the Eels seem to thrive most when they've got a gun to their head.
After they came from nowhere to walk the sudden-death tightrope all the way through to the grand final, Parramatta had the chance to make life easier for themselves in 2010.
But they've once again sat on their hands for most of the season, and it now seems they must remain undefeated over the final three rounds of the premiership to stand any chance of making the eight.
Their do-or-die battle for the playoffs began with an impressive away win to Brisbane last week, and Burt conceded the pressure seemed to suit the Eels as they jump out of the frying pan and into the fire against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
"Personally I'd love not to be in that position, but we played good footy with it (pressure) so we've just got to keep doing that," the experienced winger said.
"(We can) take that bit of confidence from last Friday night and play confident and trust our own game.
"All of them are (crucial) for us for the rest of the year but especially this Sunday because if we win there we're still in with a chance."
In the corresponding round last season the Tigers and Eels met in a blockbuster at the Sydney Football Stadium - with Parramatta's 26-18 win propelling them towards the finals, and ending Wests' hopes.
Both sides need to throw everything at each other again on Sunday afternoon at a sold-out Parramatta Stadium, and Burt said a win had the potential to provide the momentum for another premiership charge.
"Yeah I can't think why not. If you knock together two wins in the NRL, it always gives you a bit of confidence and if we can knock them over on Sunday it'll give us that little bit for the last couple of games," he said.
"They (the Tigers) were pretty awesome in some of the things they did so they're a side that can attack all over the park.
"They've got players that can attack you from anywhere. They've got skilful forwards and really skilful halves and outside backs so it's going to be a good match and it'll show us where we are as well.
"Your defence has to be really good against a team like the Tigers.
"It'll be huge I think. If it's a dry day it'll be a nice entertaining one."
Just like Burt would rather do without the grandstand race for the finals, he's hoping to bring up the Eels' club record for most tries with a little less fuss.
Last week against the Broncos, Burt spectacularly chipped over the top to score one of the tries of the season.
Trailing Brett `Burt' Kenny's mark of 110 by three tries, Parramatta's second favourite Burt is hopeful he doesn't have to work so hard to bring up the record.
"I'm battling away," he smiled.
"I don't think I'll score many more like that one. I wouldn't mind a couple of those good winger tries where you just fall over in the corner! That would be nice."
http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/59838/Default.aspx
By Ben Horne AAP Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:32:32
Parramatta stalwart Luke Burt would prefer not to be living his NRL life on the edge, but admits the Eels seem to thrive most when they've got a gun to their head.
After they came from nowhere to walk the sudden-death tightrope all the way through to the grand final, Parramatta had the chance to make life easier for themselves in 2010.
But they've once again sat on their hands for most of the season, and it now seems they must remain undefeated over the final three rounds of the premiership to stand any chance of making the eight.
Their do-or-die battle for the playoffs began with an impressive away win to Brisbane last week, and Burt conceded the pressure seemed to suit the Eels as they jump out of the frying pan and into the fire against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
"Personally I'd love not to be in that position, but we played good footy with it (pressure) so we've just got to keep doing that," the experienced winger said.
"(We can) take that bit of confidence from last Friday night and play confident and trust our own game.
"All of them are (crucial) for us for the rest of the year but especially this Sunday because if we win there we're still in with a chance."
In the corresponding round last season the Tigers and Eels met in a blockbuster at the Sydney Football Stadium - with Parramatta's 26-18 win propelling them towards the finals, and ending Wests' hopes.
Both sides need to throw everything at each other again on Sunday afternoon at a sold-out Parramatta Stadium, and Burt said a win had the potential to provide the momentum for another premiership charge.
"Yeah I can't think why not. If you knock together two wins in the NRL, it always gives you a bit of confidence and if we can knock them over on Sunday it'll give us that little bit for the last couple of games," he said.
"They (the Tigers) were pretty awesome in some of the things they did so they're a side that can attack all over the park.
"They've got players that can attack you from anywhere. They've got skilful forwards and really skilful halves and outside backs so it's going to be a good match and it'll show us where we are as well.
"Your defence has to be really good against a team like the Tigers.
"It'll be huge I think. If it's a dry day it'll be a nice entertaining one."
Just like Burt would rather do without the grandstand race for the finals, he's hoping to bring up the Eels' club record for most tries with a little less fuss.
Last week against the Broncos, Burt spectacularly chipped over the top to score one of the tries of the season.
Trailing Brett `Burt' Kenny's mark of 110 by three tries, Parramatta's second favourite Burt is hopeful he doesn't have to work so hard to bring up the record.
"I'm battling away," he smiled.
"I don't think I'll score many more like that one. I wouldn't mind a couple of those good winger tries where you just fall over in the corner! That would be nice."
http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/59838/Default.aspx
