Luther Burrell to make Super League debut – after stick from Warrington pals

LUTHER Burrell hopes to walk the walk after hearing enough of the talk, from his own team-mates after coming from the ‘rich’ world of rugby union.

The former England star knows he is likely to be a target when he makes his Warrington debut today.

Then again, he has been a target for the mouthier members of the Wolves squad since day one – with the ‘rich kids’ he played alongside at Northampton a source of banter.

Kicking in training and his supposedly upper class choices at a hotel buffet also saw him receive stick.

“The perception is that union is the more affluent game,” said Burrell. “When I first walked in on day one, one of the lads asked, ‘Can you lend me a fiver?’

“Also, whenever I kick the ball in training, everyone stops and goes, ‘Woah, we’re not playing rugby union now. What’s up with you?’ They don’t let me get away with anything.

“When we once stayed at a hotel in Hull before a game we had a platter and I opted for balsamic vinegar and oils with bread.

“You would not have believed the reaction. The lads were all like, ‘You’re not in rugby union now.’

“I can’t do anything without getting any stick. Even when I’m on the massage table, I get an elbow to the head.”

Ironically, Burrell will make his Super League bow at London’s Ealing ground, just six miles from where he wore an England RU shirt at Twickenham.

He is itching to go after being put through his paces in training sessions he admits are shorter and more intense than union ones but ones more to his style.

But the 31-year-old admits this is a good game to take to the field in the 13-a-side code as it is away from the Sky cameras and not at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, meaning less focus and pressure.

However, anyone wanting to put one on the rugby union boy has another thing coming.

He added: “Some will see me as a target but I have t make sure I’m up to that. If they see me as a weakness I need to turn that into a strength.

“I can’t take a backward step, I’ve got to take the game to them.”

Burrell may have made his name in union but league is not foreign to him after growing up in Huddersfield.

He played both codes as a kid, being team-mates with Giants players Jermaine McGillvary and Leroy Cudjoe and his last taste came in a charity game about nine years ago.

Cudjoe told SunSport: “We became good mates at college. At the time he was playing for Leeds Carnegie and I was at Huddersfield which provided a lot of banter and competition between us.

“We played league and union together for college. Luther always been a good Rugby player in both codes so it doesn’t surprise me he’s made the move over.

“He’s got all the attributes to make a big impact. It will take him some time but he’ll certainly have an impact. A lot of people look at his size but he’s also got very good skill and vision.”