IT'S been six months since Travis Burns arrived in east Hull from Australia to start a new life. A move from the NRL to Hull KR brought a chance to put the huge disappointment of a 12-match suspension behind him – even if it did follow him halfway across the world.
Sitting out the first four games of the new Super League season seemed a small price to pay for being given the chance of a fresh start.
And for Rovers' fans the long wait to see Burns in action has proved well worth it.
Of the six games he has played, KR have won five.
Of the seven matches he has missed, Rovers have won only two.
Yet still, Burns is to hit top gear.
A shoulder injury in the derby win over Hull brought another break in his season after only four-and-a-half games.
Then, a suspension for his high shot on Ben Crooks in the same match added another week on the sidelines.
It has been a stop-start campaign, which Burns hopes is now finally starting to build some momentum.
"It was tough at the start with the weather and getting into full-time training," Burns said, casting his mind back to pre-season.
"The suspension helped me clear my head and it took me a few months to get up to speed with the rest of the boys.
"I'm fully fit now and I'm in the best condition I have been in for a long time, but I think I need to play five or six weeks at high intensity to get my match fitness up to where it was before.
"It was frustrating to get suspended when I did, but I was out injured anyway so they kind of cancelled each other out.
"I'm keen to start playing week in, week out and get my match fitness back to where it was."
Of course, having missed so many games, Burns is still to develop his partnership with captain Michael Dobson to its full potential.
When they have been alongside one another, Rovers have looked a force to be reckoned with.
And Burns believes they can combine to get the best out of a talented and young, if somewhat inexperienced, squad at KR.
"I'm looking to build a bit of continuity with Michael because the more we improve as a half-back pairing, the better we are going to go," he said.
"I have a good feeling about this squad we have here, and when we get the injured players back, we'll only get better.
"Comparing our squad with others in the competition, I'd say it's a good young squad with a good balance of young and senior players.
"We have been unlucky with injuries, but hopefully we can get past that."
Burns and Rovers take on defending champions Leeds at MS3 Craven Park today, a side the Aussie has great admiration for having looked on at home as they claimed the Super League title for the past two seasons, despite finishing fifth in the table.
The stand-off expects an open and expansive game, and he feels his side can match the Rhinos every step of the way.
"I like Leeds' style of play, they throw the ball around a bit and they can shift the ball and they keep teams on their toes," he said.
"They can shift the ball one way then the other, but now the pitches are drying out, hopefully we can do the same and play some free-flowing rugby.
"We are improving and getting more consistent and we've ironed out a few problems we had in our defence so hopefully we can put on a good performance in front of our own fans.
"Defence is an attitude thing and when we turn up with a good attitude, our defence is pretty strong.
"It's when we're not there mentally, that's when we struggle."
Whilst fully focussed on life at KR, Burns also has one eye on the Exiles' annual clash with England in June.
Having missed seven of Rovers' 13 games so far, he was overlooked for the clash, but knowing injuries could strike out some of those selected, he wants selectors to know he would love to play some part.
"Of course, I'd like to be involved with the Exiles," he said.
"It's a representative game over here for Aussies. Hopefully I can play some good rugby in the next few months and you never know.
"I've not played that many games this year and that's in the back of my mind.
"I want to do well for Hull KR first and foremost. We have some big games coming up in the league and cup. I'll worry about KR and worry about the rest later."
