Tigers and Eels to play for Sean Burns memorial shield

TEAMS TO PLAY FOR SEAN BURNS MEMORIAL SHIELD
 
Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels will play for the inaugural Sean Burns
Memorial Shield at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night, February 11.
 
Burns was a Strength and Conditioning Coach at both clubs and was highly
respected by the players for his professional work ethic. Burns recently
passed away, aged 39, leaving behind a young family.
 
Almost the entire Wests Tigers and Parramatta NRL squads were in
attendance for his funeral at Castle Hill last Monday in honour of
Burns.
 
A former highly ranked police officer, Burns worked his way through the
Parramatta Eels junior representative ranks as a strength and
conditioner trainer from 2006-08 before joining Wests Tigers in 2009 to
work with the NYC team.
 
Burns was then promoted to work with the NRL squad as an Assistant
Strength and Conditioning Coach before being appointed to the head role
midway through last season. He left Wests Tigers at the end of 2011 to
return to Parramatta as their Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
 
A minute's silence will be held in memory of Sean prior to the NRL trial
match at 7.30pm. Both teams will wear black armbands. Eels' trainers
will also wear Black Dog Institute insignia on their game-day shirts.
 
Players from Wests Tigers and Parramatta NYC and NSW Cup teams will walk
around the ground throughout the night to take gold coin donations for
the Burns family.
 
Wests Tigers winger Beau Ryan and Parramatta prop Tim Mannah delivered
beautiful eulogies in memory of their trainer and friend.
 
"Burnsy is sadly missed by everyone at Wests Tigers. He was more than a
trainer, he was a brother to the players. He was one of us,''
Ryan said.
 
"I know the boys are very keen to win the first Sean Burns Memorial
Shield. He always gave his all in his three years at Wests Tigers. He is
forever in our hearts."
 
Mannah said Burns made a lasting impression on the players.
 
"In the short time we had with Sean he made a profound impression on all
of us," Mannah said.
 
"He was the sort of guy who brought out the best in you. Sean pushed us
to achieve things we didn't think we were capable of.
 
"He was also an ultra-competitive guy and I know he'd be loving the fact
both of his teams will be doing their best to win the first Sean Burns
Memorial Shield.
 
"Our hearts go out to Sean's family and tomorrow night we all get our
chance to support them - we are really looking forward to it."
 
Match Day Schedule (note amended times for NSW Cup and NYC)
 
Gates Open 3.15pm.
NSW Cup: Balmain Ryde Eastwood Vs Wentworthville- 3.45pm (was 3.30pm)
NYC: Wests Tigers Vs Parramatta- 5.40pm (was 5.15pmNRL
NRL: Wests Tigers Vs Parramatta- 7.30pm
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