Dorn using Clark to prepare for Burrow’s Wembley threat

Correspondent

Castleford full-back Luke Dorn believes that Rob Burrow will be one of Leeds’ main threats in Saturday’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

The diminuitve Rhinos pivot can wreak havoc from dummy half, as Dorn has seen time and again during his career.

But Castleford also have a genius of their own at hooker, in the shape of Daryl Clark, and Dorn feels that training with such a player is a real help when preparing to deal with Burrow.

“I think every time I’ve played against Leeds in my whole career I’ve prepared on how to play against Rob Burrow,” Dorn told Love Rugby League.

“He’s a game breaker, like Daryl Clark. They’re guys who if you give them half a milimetre of space, then they’re gone and it’s all over.

“So we’re all pretty versed in the Rob Burrow defensive mentality.

“But we’re also lucky in that every day at training, when we do 13-on-13 in our opposed sessions, then we’re got Daz Clark there.

“They’re not too dissimilar in style, so we’re pretty well prepared. Daz is a good practice to get ready for Rob.”

Cas have been deservedly lauded for their attractive and entertaining attacking rugby this season.

Dorn feels that playing such a style helps the Tigers to prepare well, even for games as big as Saturday’s, when there is much more on the line than just two Super League points.

“In a way it makes it easier to prepare, because we’re so used to our style,” he explained.

“We manipulate it depending on who we’re playing against, whether that be significant or minute.

“But it definitely helps us, it keeps us relaxed. We just go after it.

“We play in a very positive frame of mind, that’s one thing we really try and do.

“We like to play positively and really take the game head on, and not give the opposition much scope.

“So that’s the plan, that’s what we’ll try and go out and do.”

Dorn, 32, has had a long career which started in 2002. He has enjoyed spells at London Broncos and Salford, as well as Castleford. He has also turned out for Manly and for Syndey Roosters in the NRL.

He is now relishing the chance to sample the atmosphere of a genuinely huge occasion like a Wembley final.

“It will most definitely be the career highlight,” he said.

“It’s fantastic. I just can’t wait. The week’s rolled around, and it’s great news. It feels like it’s been forever coming, and now I’m very excited to get out there and have a go at it.”