Burgess Pays Tribute to Courageous Burrow After Tragic Passing
As Sam Burgess prepares to lead his Warrington side out at Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final, the 35-year-old reflects on the devastating loss of his former rival and teammate, Rob Burrow.
Burgess, who lost his own father to motor neurone disease (MND) at a young age, was deeply saddened by the news of Burrow’s passing at the age of 41 after a courageous four-and-a-half year battle with the illness.
“I did a lot of reflecting after we got the news on Rob overnight,” Burgess tells Mail Sport. “You think ‘what’s it all about? What does it mean? Why are we here?'”
These are questions he has grappled with before, having witnessed his father’s own struggle with the cruel disease.
Burrow, who won eight Super League titles during his career, was hailed by Burgess for his bravery and the lasting impact he made through his fight to raise awareness and find a cure for MND.
“It takes real courage to do what Rob did,” Burgess says. “He probably pioneered it (the fight to raise awareness and find a cure). He led the way with great support. Kev Sinfield (Burrow’s former Leeds teammate and marathon-running chief fundraiser) has been inspirational. Together they have made a real impact on the world.”
Despite his smaller stature, Burrow’s “heart of a lion” allowed him to defy the odds and achieve greatness on the pitch, something Burgess says came as no surprise given his intimate knowledge of the disease.
“Physics would say he shouldn’t have played Super League. He was smaller than most, lighter than most but he had the heart of a lion. It’s no surprise he’s faced MND like he has.”
As Burgess prepares for the Challenge Cup Final, he acknowledges the poignancy of the occasion, given Burrow’s own success at Wembley, where he won the coveted Lance Todd Trophy twice.
“It’s a fitting week for the final,” he says.
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