LEEDS RHINOS MAKE GLORIOUS ROB BURROW TRIBUTE ON HEADINGLEY RETURN

Everywhere it was Rob. Everywhere it was number 7.

Leeds Rhinos came out in force on Friday night to celebrate the life of the legendary Rob Burrow. Ever since his death almost three weeks ago, rugby league has paid tribute to the iconic scrum-half. From Castleford to Hull, St Helens to Wembley, Wigan to Lock Lane.

But Headingley, of course, was Burrow’s spiritual home where the genius player lit up so many matches and enjoyed so many glorious nights.

In Rhinos’ first home game since his passing, this was the night where his adoring faithful could come together and properly honour him. Burrow’s wife Lindsey and kids were there to see the remarkable outpouring of love and affection.

His heartbroken father Geoff was given a standing ovation as he broke down while thanking everyone for supporting his son through his long battle with motor neurone disease. It was almost immaterial that a game was on, too. Leeds and Leigh would lock horns in their Super League battle but this was an opportunity for everyone to remember someone who inspired so many people in so many ways.

But, barely 48 hours after coach Rohan Smith was axed, injury-hit Rhinos fittingly delivered a display full of Burrow’s traits: a hearty combination of grit and guile. Stand-off Brodie Croft scored two brilliant first-half tries but it was the second half defensive steel that proved most impressive. They denied Leigh time and again before the club’s current No7 - Matt Frawley - scored a fine team try to make sure of victory.

Matt Moylan and Edwin Ipape responded with tries, Moylan improving the latter, but there was no way Leeds would lose on this of all nights. Greats from past and present gathered to recollect their memories of the former Great Britain star who made almost 500 appearances for Leeds and won every honour in the sport. Danny Buderus, who gave Burrow the ball before his famous solo try in the 2011 Grand Final win over St Helens, flew in from Australia just for this night.

One of around 80 former team-mates in attendance who walked out on the pitch before kick-off to salute their fallen hero, he’ll be back home in barely 48 hours. The ex-Kangaroos hooker said: “Jonesy [Jamie Jones-Buchanan] rang me and said this is probably impossible. I said it’s possible so let’s make it happen. I’m very privileged to make it and be here.”

Asked by fellow Rhinos legend Barrie McDermott if he was claiming an assist for that brilliant Burrow try at Old Trafford, Buderus laughed: “No. Not at all. It was a tired pass! I had the best seat in the house for that one. He made it his field of dreams and it was so special.”

Danny McGuire, who played alongside Burrow in all eight of their Grand Final wins in Leeds colours, also gave his own tribute. As well as footage of him tearing defences to pieces, montages of fans’ own pics of themselves with Burrow from over the last 20 years were flashed up on the big screen. That infectious smile beaming back out every time.

Leeds prop Mikolaj Oledzki admitted: "Losing wasn't an option tonight. We spoke about that beforehand. It was emotional and it was hard to keep it all in. It's been a tough few weeks but it's great to do that for Rob, such a special guy."

2024-06-21T20:12:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd