Leeds players reveal what Rob Burrow means to them ahead of emotional night

MATT Frawley only needs one look at his shirt to know exactly what it means – seven is Rob Burrow’s number.

So much so, he was more than happy to give it up and see her retired after the icon’s death.

Tonight comes the game everyone knew was coming but nobody wanted, Leeds’ first at Headingley since the passing of the legend.

After living with motor neurone disease for four-and-a-half years and inspiring millions of pounds of vital fundraising and awareness, Burrow will be celebrated in an emotional stadium.

Up to 60 former teammates, including some who flew around the world to be there, and his family are expected to offer a toast to the little man turned colossus, from both rugby league and the MND community.

And the Rhinos’ current number seven has revealed the prospect of retiring the number across all their squads. He would have gladly done it, but Burrow and his family said no.

Now it’s enough to see his signature embedded in the number on the shirt, as Frawley said: “It’s his shirt. Rob is number seven for the Rhinos.

“Having Rob’s signature on my shirt is a huge honor and I feel privileged. It’s my responsibility to make his number proud.

“He made the shirt what it is, I’m just looking after him at the moment and I want to make him proud.

“I was put on withdrawal number seven. I was more than happy to do that, whether it’s for this week, the whole season or forever.

“But they had spoken to Rob about the possibility previously, along with his family, and wanted to go ahead. 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 very nice touch. Everyone who wears the number seven will have that.”

Burrow’s legacy will live on – both on and off the field in the Rob Burrow Center for MND, which is under construction.

Several of the players he coached in the Leeds academy are now in the first team and Mikolaj Oledzki is taking lessons from the 5ft 5ins fly back into his game as a 6ft 3ins prop.

He also has first-hand experience of its severe side, as well as the impact on his adopted hometown.

He said: “Rob influenced me massively. He was my coach at under-15 and under-16 level. When I got to the first team, I could always go to him for guidance and he would help me.

“I was still very new to rugby at 14 or 15 so he had to be a little patient with me but he fully understood that I wanted to work hard and get better. Whenever I had questions or needed help, he was always the first to help me.

“Whether you played with him for 10, 20 years or just came 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 boys to express themselves. He knew I was the best when I did that.

“He just wants us to play rugby and with a smile on our face. He never put stress on anyone, he knew it brought out the best in us.

“I had a good relationship with Rob so I was never disappointed by him, but when he needed to be, he could make his point sternly. However, he was always respectful 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 had on Leeds as a city is incredible.

“It will 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 charge following the departure of manager Rohan Smith.

Leopards boss Adrian Lam was on the receiving end of Burrow’s brilliance when a 40-12 win over Wigan in the 2004 Super League semi-final ended his playing career.

He also has no doubt that had he tried his luck in the NRL, he would have been a hit.

Lam said: “Rob was well respected in Australia. If Rob had the opportunity to go to the NRL I think he would 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 thought, ‘He’s not going to make the NRL, he’s small.’ But I think he could have changed the game there.”

Frawley, 29, also knew Burrow could have succeeded Down Under, seeing him as a fan – now he’s at Leeds, his reputation is even greater.

He added: “Hearing the stories, talking to people at the club about what he was like as a player and as a person, it’s unbelievable.

“You’d hear from his teammates is something I’ve learned over the last few months. A common theme is that he treated everyone, whether they played 300 Super League games or none, the same.

“Learning those stories was a real honor and something I can take into tonight as well as 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 which will allow viewers to donate money to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Both players know that the most appropriate way to toast the Burrow is to win.

Oledzki, 25, added: “That’s 100 per cent the case, especially for the guys who have been here since the academy or played with Rob.

“This is more than a league game or another occasion. This is very special. Rob deserves everything in the world for what he’s done.”