McGUIRE & BURROW ...BACK TOGETHER FOR ONE POIGNANT FINAL TIME
‘We’ve played side by side since the under-10s , created great memories ... I want that to continue and that’s what tomorrow’s match is all about’
DANNY McGUIRE and Rob Burrow first shared a rugby pitch at under-10s – tomorrow they will run out together for one final poignant time.
The pair thought that occasion was going to be Leeds Rhinos’ triumphant 2017 Grand Final – their eighth Old Trafford success together – when Burrow brought down the curtain on his trophy-laden career and McGuire headed for Hull KR.
But Burrow’s devastating motor neurone disease diagnosis just before Christmas has brought him, McGuire and the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai back together one time. They will take the field for the final few minutes on what was initially Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s testimonial clash with Bradford, which is now doubling as a sell-out fundraiser for diminutive hero Burrow.
For McGuire it will be the first time he’s seen his close friend since his condition was confirmed, having just returned from a month in Australia, and he admits he’s struggled with the distance between them in recent weeks.
“I felt a bit useless when all I wanted to do was give him a big hug and tell him everything will be all right,” McGuire said. “I had done a dinner with Rob in Cumbria and we’d spent a couple of days together so I knew he’d been having some tests. But I didn’t know to what extent it was and then Kev rang me when I was in Australia and I’ve been in touch with Rob since.
“We’ve shared some great times and memories, and to hear that news was soulmore destroying, I felt sick for a few days. It wasn’t just our Leeds careers together, it was long before then and I’d class him as one of my best friends.
“We first started playing against each other at under-10s and then with each other for representative sides not long after that. We starting training at Leeds at 12 and signed together at 13, did all the tours to Australia and roomed together loads of times.
“From such a young age we’ve been side by side and been such good friends and that’s what makes it hard.
“We’ve created some great memories and I want to continue to do that.
“That’s what Sunday will be about, it will be great for some of us old boys to get back together for one last hurrah, make it a great occasion and raise a decent amount of money.
“It’s brilliant that everyone in rugby league and other people involved in sport have got behind him – they realise what a character and what a gem of a person he is.”
McGuire knew that Burrow would show the kind of positive tenacity he has displayed since learning of his diagnosis.
McGuire added: “That typifies Rob as a person. Him and JP (Peacock) are the two bravest players I’ve seen, for different reasons.
“Rob put his body on the line week in, week out, he never shirked a challenge or collision and that’s the way he’s approaching everything now.
“I’m not surprised about his positivity and fight for the battle because those are the characteristics he’s shown throughout his career.
“He’s a battler and he definitely won’t give up. He’s got a lovely family and I know he’ll do everything he can to see them grow up, and we’ll all be there to support him.”
■ To donate to Rob Burrow’s fundraising page visit: https://www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/robburrow