Kevin Sinfield had to fight back tears while speaking about Rob Burrow for the first time since he passed away on Sunday.
Leeds Rhinos announced on Sunday that Burrow had died aged 41. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease four and a half years ago and has spent that time tirelessly campaigning and fundraising with the help of Sinfield and some of his other former Leeds team-mates.
On Monday morning, Sinfield joined Burrow's family and other people who have joined the fight against MND at the site of what will become the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. The group attended an emotional groundbreaking ceremony for the £6m centre and afterwards Sinfield spoke to BBC Breakfast about Burrow's legacy.
“So brave, so tough," he said of Burrow. "I wish he could have seen the outpouring of love. I think we all lose special people, but it’s very, very rare you lose someone so special to so many different people.
“As you can see it’s pretty raw still, he will leave a massive hole and I know there will be a lot of heartbroken people today. A lot of people from the MND community will be heartbroken this morning, but he cared about everybody.
Kevin Sinfield admits he owes new England role to best mate Rob Burrow
"But what’s important is that Rob Burrow continues to live forever and our team and the MND community, and everyone who has supported us in the past will make sure Rob’s name is at the forefront of everything we do going forward.
“To see what he has done in the last four and a half years, I was amazed at some of the things he did on a rugby field, but to see some of the things in the last four and a half years has been unbelievable.
Kevin Sinfield was emotional while speaking about Rob Burrow (BBC)"The respect and love and admiration I’ve got for him couldn’t be higher. The inspiration he’s given everyone in the United Kingdom who has been across this story, it will live in the memories forever."
Burrow fought his MND to his final day and has helped raise around £15m for charitable causes alongside Sinfield. On Monday, their hard work was realised at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
Rob’s mother, Irene told BBC Breakfast: “He was asked, we were all there and Rob used his eyes to say yes. There was no hesitation whatsoever, he wants it to go ahead today.
Kevin Sinfield was full of emotional at the event (PA)"The sooner they can get this done the better. Not just for the families, but the professional people there, it will make their lives a lot easier, giving bad news to people.
"He’ll be watching today, we’ve pulled ourselves together because that’s what Rob would have wanted. It’s amazing to be here today for Rob. We’re flying the flag, beating the drum and we will get a cure.”
His dad Geoff added: “He’ll be up there, looking down saying ‘shut up mother!’. But to have a care centre with his name on it, and not just the centre but having a breakthrough for people with MND so it’s not the hell on earth, it’s going to be a good future for MND sufferers, we’ll make sure of it.”
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