Picking up two awards at St Helens’ end of year celebration underlines the season winger Leah Burke enjoyed.
It would be easy to be arrogant, but after winning coaches player and players’ player of the season, Burke insists neither would have been possible without “incredible and inspiring” teammates.
The England international shares the players’ player award with teammate Amy Hardcastle who landed the same number of votes. Burke said: “I think it’s such a special award because it is voted by your teammates and it is a nice recognition.
“This was a special award, especially to win it alongside Amy who is the most incredible player and leading the way in women’s rugby league by inspiring the next generation.”
Thank you @hardcastle03 🫶🏻 you where my players player, can’t believe I got to share the award with you! Keep smashing it you deserve everything coming your way 🙌🏻 https://t.co/vF42Jij9zH
— Leah Burke (@leahh_burke) October 13, 2022
Keen to play down her own success, the winger says without every single person on and off the field the team would achieve nothing. Being a winger means Burke is often reliant on players infield and she knows the importance of her forwards who “lay the platform every week” for her and the team to score tries.
“Without every single person involved we wouldn’t have been able to win the Challenge Cup last season,” said Burke.
Burke says the awards have given her a confidence boost in one of her “most enjoyable” seasons. A spike in self-belief is just what Burke needs ahead of the Rugby League World Cup.
She said: “It is a nice bonus heading into the World Cup because it will now drive me to continue to aim to achieve success.”
With the World Cup starting on November 1, Burke’s focus will now shift from club to country. She said: “My individual aspirations now ahead of the World Cup are to continue to play the best I can and achieve great success with England.”
For the first time ever, the Women’s Challenge Cup final will be held at Wembley in 2023. A massive year for the sport, Burke says being at Wembley is a huge goal for her and St Helens, one that she is determined to achieve.
Burke will kick off the World Cup with England versus Brazil at Headingley, Leeds on November 1.
