 After only two years at the North Queensland club, Burns signed a two-year contract with the Penrith Panthers prior to the 2010 NRL season.Burns made his début for the Penrith Panthers in round 1, 2010, against the Canberra Raiders alongside Adrian Purtell, Kevin Kingston and Nigel Plum.Burns scored his first try for the club in round 6 against the New Zealand Warriors with the Panthers winning 40–12.