'A giant among men': Leeds Rhinos fans pay loving tribute to icon Rob Burrow

The former Leeds Rhinos scrum-half was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019, two years after hanging up his boots at the end of a career which saw him win eight Grand Finals and the hearts of every true rugby league fan. Here the YEP’s supporters’ Jury play their own tribute to a once in a lifetime player.

GAVIN MILLER

Rugby league doesn’t matter today. My formative years watching Leeds Rhinos were during those glorious times of the golden generation when superb professionals and world class players brought success to Leeds. The one player who epitomised the spirit of that team was Rob Burrow.

Always defying the odds to reach the very top, his tiny stature was never an issue because he made up for it in heart, skill, speed, application, effort and a desire to succeed. By all accounts the perfect teammate, often the player who was turned to when things weren’t going well or the side needed a boost, Rob Burrow would be the man who could be relied upon at all times.

Eight Grand Final wins including two man of the match performances, two Challenge Cup wins, three World Club Challenge victories, countless tries, countless assists, match-winning performances too many to count, he really was one of the best to pull on the shirt. He showed the courage and defiance over the last four and a half years fighting MND that epitomised his rugby league career and the world has lost one of the greatest.

DAVID MUHL

Sunday was a sad, sad day for Leeds Rhinos, rugby league and the MND community. I was lucky enough to watch Leeds throughout Rob’s career and met him on many occasions.

I last met him at the Burrow Strictly Ball in Blackpool, he was surrounded by his loving family and it was great to see him so obviously happy. I showed him a photo I took of him with my two sons and his eyes lit up.

He was a giant among men both on the field and off it. His try in the 2011 Grand Final, where he left numerous St Helens players grasping at air, will always stay in the memory, but this was just one of the highlights of a marvellous career in the blue and amber.

He managed his MND diagnosis with the same tenacity he managed his whole career. The Rob Burrow centre in Seacroft, which is now being built, will serve as a lasting memorial to Rob. He will leave a big gap in the world, but always be a member of the Leeds Rhinos club. My thoughts are with his wife Lindsey, his mum and dad and his beautiful three children. Rob will never be forgotten.

TOM GOLDSWORTHY

I was absolutely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Rob Burrow on Sunday evening. It was news we all hoped would never come, but hit us like a brick wall when it did.

He will forever be a true Leeds Rhinos legend for his outstanding efforts both on and off the field. Even from the beginning of his career, Rob Burrow defied the odds. It has been said plenty of times, but to compete at the highest level of rugby league being only 5ft 5ins tall is simply unbelievable and I will be forever grateful I got to witness some of his playing career. He was so fearless when he played it almost did not matter how tall he was, he would get the better of his opposition one way or another. Leeds Rhinos as a club would simply not have had the success they have achieved recently without Burrow.

He is the greatest player to ever wear the number seven and encapsulated what it meant to wear the famous Blue and Amber shirt with his talent, courage and resilience.

After his diagnosis of MND in 2019, he continued to defy the odds and has used his platform to raise millions of pounds for awareness, research and support to those who also have had to fight this horrible disease. His bravery, determination and unwavering positivity have inspired countless individuals, both within and outside the rugby community.

The work Burrow and Kevin Sinfield have done since 2019 arguably completely eclipses what they achieved on the field and we are genuinely so lucky to have had them play for our rugby club. I think the high level of support, love and tributes after the announcement speaks wonders for the type of man Rob Burrow was and the effect he had on people's lives, whether it be for his charity work or Leeds Rhinos success.

His legacy will live on forever and rightly so. Even in the face of death, he continued to inspire us with his now-famous quote: "In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream."

IAIN SHARP

As I was sitting down to write my usual piece about the game against Castleford, my phone started to ping and clearly there was something happening. In this case, it was the sad and

tragic news of the untimely passing of club icon Rob Burrow.

I’m glad to have an opportunity to pay tribute to one of the club’s greats. Given my longevity of watching Leeds, I have been fortunate to see both the beginning and the end of Rob’s career and all the great moments along the way of someone acknowledged to be the

most successful number seven ever. Who can forget, if you were there, perhaps the greatest ‘friendly’ in the club’s history, as Rob came on for the last 10 minutes, a few months after the public announcement of his diagnosis?

He scored many trademark tries for the club, being small enough to duck under would-be tacklers and then speed away to score. His 2011 Old Trafford effort is up there with the greatest Grand Final tries and remains a fitting legacy. His size also meant he

took more than his fair share of the physical punishment the sport could throw at him, not least his famous fight against Ephalame Luaki of Hull FC.

However, after another bone-crunching (often high) tackle, he would be back on his feet and ready to go again. Motor Neurone Disease is one of the most cruel illnesses out there, with the mind remaining sharp, but the physical body around it failing and one in this city, we should already be acutely aware of, given it was the illness that also claimed the life of Don Revie. Like his playing career, Rob fought the adversity with positivity and bravery, an example to the rest of us. The MND Centre that will carry his name at Seacroft Hospital, the soil being broken this very week, will also serve as a lasting tribute.

As a humble Leeds fan, one who was lucky to meet Rob on a couple of occasions and who perhaps measures the great events in life by what his rugby team was doing, thank you Rob

for being instrumental in some of the happiest days of my life.

BECKY OXLEY

The news of Rob’s passing has really hit me for six. We all knew it was going to happen at some point, but that hasn’t made it any easier. A 5ft 5ins warrior, the pocket rocket, ‘beep beep’ from Castleford played for us for his whole career and the way he didn’t let anyone of any size bother him earned respect from the whole rugby league community.

With him being the same age as me I’ve always looked up to Rob and his courage and strength has helped me get through many a rough time. He has made me see that things are possible if you put your mind to it. Even after his diagnosis of MND in 2019 he never gave up and fought to the very end.

Rob has helped so many and his legacy will live on through all the amazing work he has done for rugby league and the MND community. I will never forget Rob and the conversation we had at the back of the South Stand one wet December day. His care and love got me through a very difficult time in my life and I’m eternally grateful.

My thoughts are with Lindsey, Macy, Maya, Jackson, Geoff and Irene as well as the rest of Rob’s family and friends at this time. You are not alone, we are all with you. In the words of Rob: “In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.” RIP Rob, I will never forget you.