Leeds Rhinos 34 Bradford Bulls 10: Rob Burrow eager to return to ‘normality’ after overwhelming support at emotional testimonial game

A crowd of more than 19,000 – the biggest at Emerald Headingley for four years – saw Burrow make a five-minute cameo appearance at the end of Rhinos’ 34-10 pre-season win over Bradford Bulls yesterday.

Originally arranged as a testimonial for Jamie Jones-Buchanan, the game became a fund-raiser for Burrow last month after he was diagnosed with the terminal condition, motor neurone disease.

Burrow defied his illness to put his boots on one final time, more than two years after his last competitive appearance in the 2017 Grand Final win over Castleford Tigers.

Jones-Buchanan also came on for the final moments of the game, alongside fellow retired Rhinos greats Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Kylie Leuluai, Keith Senior, Brett Delaney and Ryan Bailey.

“I am not one for the limelight,” Burrow said in a post-match press conference.

“I have got some stuff to do tomorrow, but when that settles it’s back to normal life – and I can’t wait to get back to what it’s like being a dad – cleaning nappies – and doing a bit of coaching.

“The sooner I get back to that the better, but how can you not enjoy an event like today?

“The past few weeks since I was diagnosed has been an unbelievable time.”

One of the most moving moments yesterday came when Burrow broke down during a thank-you speech to the crowd after the game, sparking a chant of “one Rob Burrow” from the Bulls fans, which spread around the entire stadium.

Burrow said: “Our sport isn’t the biggest, but it’s the closest-knit in the world.

“We stay together and look after our own – you can’t imagine what it’s like to have Wigan fans, Cas fans, Saints fans, Bradford, Leeds, all saying nice stuff and wanting to do something for you. It was a true-life example of what our game is all about.”

Jones-Buchanan described yesterday as probably the “most powerful moment of my career”. The seven-time Grand Final champion said: “It was symbolic of what this club has been about for 15-20 years.

“It was magic as an event and it was all there for Rob. I think we’re all overwhelmed at how it has grown exponentially in the last two or three weeks.

“The whole of rugby league has got behind it.

“I did a talk in Swinton last week and even they couldn’t do enough to try and help and support.

“Everybody’s wanting to support Rob and they’ve done that.”

On a personal note, Jones-Buchanan – who is now helping with some coaching after retiring at the end of last season – said: “I am really grateful to have played 20 years with this great club.

“What an honour that has been. I supported Leeds as a kid, I’ve played 421 times – 422 now! – and I am just glad I got on before Jamie Peacock, because I knew I wasn’t going to get a carry if he was on.

“He called the shots. We had to go back to our old calls. It was good to see so many of our lads come back.”

Speaking on the pitch after the final whistle, Sinfield – now Rhinos’ director of rugby – praised the “absolutely brilliant support” for Burrow, “not just from our club, but rugby league”.

Sinfield, who captained Burrow to seven of his eight Grand Final victories, told the crowd: “To be back here on the field, in front of a crowd we haven’t had for a few years, is immense.

“The group of boys who came on, we played together for 12-15 years.

“We will make sure, with the challenge that Rob’s got, we are all going to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight with him.”