Leeds players reveal what Rob Burrow means to them ahead of emotional night
MATT Frawley needs only one look at his shirt to know just what it means – seven is Rob Burrow’s number.
So much so, he was more than happy to give it up and see it retired after the icon’s death.
Tonight sees the game everyone knew was coming but no-one wanted to come, Leeds’ first at Headingley after the legend’s passing.
After living with motor neurone disease for four-and-a-half years and inspiring millions of pounds of fundraising and vital awareness, Burrow will be celebrated at an emotional stadium.
Up to 60 former team-mates, including some who have flown around the world to be there, and his family are expected to toast the little man who became a colossus, both of rugby league and of the MND community.
And the Rhinos’ current number seven revealed the prospect of retiring the number in all their teams was put forward. He would have happily done so but Burrow and his family said no.
Now seeing his signature incorporated into his shirt number is enough as Frawley said: “It’s his jersey. Rob’s the number seven for the Rhinos.
“Having Rob’s signature on my shirt is a massive honour and I feel privileged. It’s my responsibility to do his number proud.
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“He made the jersey what it is, I’m just looking after it at the moment and I want to do him proud.
“Retiring the number seven was put to me. I was more than happy to do that, whether that be for this week, the whole season or forever.
“But they spoke to Rob about that possibility previously, along with his family, and they wanted it to continue. That was their wish and I was happy to do whatever they wanted.
“And the touch of having his signature in the seven is a really nice touch. Everyone who wears the number seven will have that.”
Burrow’s legacy will live on – on the field as well as off it in the Rob Burrow Centre for MND, which is being built.
Several of the players he coached in Leeds’ academy are now in the first team and Mikolaj Oledzki takes lessons from the 5ft 5ins half back into his game as a 6ft 3ins prop.
He also has first-hand experience of his stern side, as well as the impact in his adopted home city.
He said: “Rob influenced me massively. He was my coach at under-15s and under-16s level. When I came through to the first team, I could always go up to him for guidance and he’d help me.
“I was still very fresh to rugby at 14 or 15-years-old, so he had to be a bit patient with me but he fully understood I wanted to work hard and get better. Whenever I had questions or needed help, he was always the first to help.
“No matter whether you’d played alongside him for 10 years, 20 years, or you were just coming through the academy, he had all the time in the world for you.
“As a coach, he was no different to how he was as a player – he was super-competitive and wanted the lads to express themselves. He knew we were at our best when we did that.
“He just wanted us to play rugby and with a smile on our faces. He never placed any stress on anyone, he knew that’s how he got the best out of us.
“I had a good relationship with Rob, so I was never really told off by him but when he had to be, he could get his point across sternly. It was always with respect, though, as he wanted to get the best out of people.
“That showed the person he was. He cared about the club and the people around him and the impact he’s had on Leeds as a city is unbelievable.
“It’s going to be a special day – so it should be as he was a special, special man.”
Leeds face Leigh with Burrow’s former team-mate Chev Walker and Scott Grix in interim charge following the departure of coach Rohan Smith.
Leopards’ boss Adrian Lam was on the receiving end of Burrow brilliance as a 40-12 win over Wigan in 2004’s Super League semi-final ended his playing career.
He is also in no doubt that if he had tried his luck in the NRL, he would have been a hit.
Lam said: “Rob was respected very highly in Australia. Had Rob had an opportunity to go to the NRL, I think he’d have done well.
“He was one of those players. The impact he could bring off the bench could be incredible.
“He was small in stature and people would think, ‘He won’t make it in the NRL, he’s small.’ But I think he could’ve changed the game there.”
Frawley, 29, also knew Burrow could have succeeded Down Under having seen him as a fan – now he is at Leeds, his reputation is even greater.
He added: “Hearing the stories, talking to people at the club about how he was as a player and a person, it’s unbelievable.
“Hearing them from his peers is something I’ve learned in recent months. One common theme is he treated everyone, whether they’d played 300 or no Super League games, the same.
“Learning those stories has been a real honour and something I can take into tonight, also life lessons going forward.”
As the game falls on Global MND Awareness Day, Sky Sports will provide an on-screen QR code during their coverage that will allow viewers to donate money towards the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Both players know the most fitting way to toast Burrow is to win.
Oledzki, 25, added: “That’s 100 per cent the case, especially for the lads who’ve been here since the academy days or played alongside Rob.
“This is more than just a league game or a different occasion. This is very special. Rob deserves everything in the world for what he’s done.”