Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow is hoping history can repeat itself and the champions defend their title from fifth in Super League.
Rhinos star hoping for more silverware from fifth
Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow is hoping history can repeat itself and the champions defend their title from fifth in Super League.
Brian McDermott's team upset the odds in 2011 by becoming the first side to secure the title from outside the top four in England's top flight.
After losing the Challenge Cup final to Wigan, Leeds were unbeaten in league action and beat Hull FC, Huddersfield and Warrington in the play-offs before toppling St Helens at Old Trafford.
Leeds have failed to improve on last season's fifth-place finish and Burrow hopes the club can now repeat last season's unlikely success, even though he admits their form has not been up to scratch.
Similar
"I do hope it can be done and that it's groundhog day. It's very, very similar," Burrow told
Sky Sports News Radio.
"We didn't want to be in this position.
"We spoke at the beginning of year about being consistent and being in the top two, but we haven't been.
"We find ourselves in fifth and we've just lost at Wembley.
"It couldn't be any more similar really and hopefully there's a repeat of what happened last year."
Underperforming
Burrow believes Super League has become stronger this season and the club's long-serving player is not underestimating Wakefield when the team's meet in Saturday's eliminator.
"We've had a strong enough squad to go and win games, but just not people playing as good as they should do on the day," he continued.
"If you're not quite 100 per cent then you can get beaten by anybody.
"Wakefield have been very, very good this year. They are the form team going into the play-offs. We're aware of that.
"They'll be coming to Headingley without a care in the world. The pressure is off and that's what they'll be playing like."
Click
here to listen to the full interview with Rob Burrow on
Sky Sports News Radio.
