Leeds pay touching tributes to Rob Burrow before victory against Leigh

There may have never been a time when the result of a rugby league game seemed less important, but on this evening filled with unexpected emotions, Leeds Rhinos delivered a performance that would have made Rob Burrow very proud.

Burrow was never one to seek attention, as his good friend and former teammate, Danny McGuire, revealed to the Guardian before the match. McGuire admitted that Burrow would feel a bit shy about all the attention, but he would appreciate the impact of a special night like this. While there was a Super League game to be played, it was clear that the main focus of the evening was to honor Burrow's life.

McGuire was just one of about 80 former teammates of Burrow who were special guests at the evening event. They shared memories of his 16-year professional career. Before the game began, they stood together on the field at Headingley in front of the largest crowd for a single Super League game in almost ten years. The crowd respectfully observed a minute of silence in honor of Burrow.

The contribution Burrow made to Leeds as a player was equally, if not more, significant than the effort he put into raising awareness and money to help those affected by motor neurone disease since he was diagnosed in December 2019. Leeds promised to carry on supporting Burrow's cause even after his unfortunate death, and their yearly MND awareness match was a perfect example of that commitment.

The Rhinos dressed in a special shirt designed in MND-themed colors that will help raise a significant amount of money. Burrow's father, Geoff, gave a heartfelt tribute to his son on the field before the game. The entire Burrow family, including his wife, Lindsey, was also present, continuing the legacy that Burrow bravely started in the face of challenges.

The event was so emotional that many people were crying during the touching tributes. It was hard to imagine how the Leeds players, who had just lost their coach and were close to Burrow, would handle the situation. But they showed their resilience, honoring Burrow in a way that reflected his successful career with Leeds.

Perhaps the most perfect moment of the game occurred in the 50th minute, when Leeds was ahead 12-0. Their third try was scored by Burrow, who proudly wears the No 7 shirt. Matt Frawley had a rough start to his time with Leeds after coming from the NRL, but this could be a turning point for him.

That successful play increased the score to 18-0, and even though the Leigh Leopards made a strong comeback towards the end, the Rhinos managed to keep their lead and finish the week on a positive note. Ultimately, the outcome of the game was not the most important thing. This night was all about one individual who always prioritized the team over himself. All he would have wanted was for Leeds to win, and they did just that when it counted the most.