Rugby legend Rob Burrow joins Leeds Rhinos' Hall of Fame

Club legend Rob Burrow has been inducted into Leeds Rhinos’ Hall of Fame.
Club legend Rob Burrow has been inducted into Leeds Rhinos’ Hall of Fame.Club legend Rob Burrow has been inducted into Leeds Rhinos’ Hall of Fame.
Club legend Rob Burrow has been inducted into Leeds Rhinos’ Hall of Fame.

Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, is the 16th player on the list of Leeds’ all-time greats and the fourth new member of 2020.

He is also the first player from Rhinos’ golden generation - who won eight Super League titles between 2004 and 2017 - to receive the honour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Normally, players are only considered after they have been retired for five years.

Burrow hung up his boots after the 2017 Grand Final triumph, but was included this year under ‘exceptional circumstances’.

The other criteria are: To have played a minimum of 150 first team games for Leeds, achieved representative honours and made an exceptional contribution to the sport.

Rhinos have revealed four new members this week, with Burrow - who played 492 times from 2001-2017 - following Australian forward Arthur Clues (236 appearances from 1947-1954), Fred Webster (543 games from 1902-1920) and Les Dyl (434 appearances, 1970-1985).

Burrow said, “All my life I have been a Rhinos fan.

“All my life I just wanted to play for Leeds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am just proud to have played at this wonderful club for many years let alone to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“Of all the trophies that we were lucky enough to win, this one means the most.”

The 38-year-old added: “There is no club in the world that compares to the Rhinos.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who put faith in me and believed that size does not matter.

“This is the ultimate accolade for me, it means so much.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Assessing Burrow’s contribution, Brian McClennan, who coached Rhinos from 2008-2010, said: “He was feared by the opposition - the threat of Rob running was so scary for the opposition.

“He was so quick and so strong.”

Burrow’s former teammate Danny Buderus recalled: “There was something special about Rob when I first played against him and there is something special about him now.”