SUPER RHINOS DO ROB PROUD
Crowd rise to hero Burrow... and team show his fighting spirit Leeds
18
Huddersfield 12
LEEDS great Rob Burrow was guest of honour as his old club celebrated the Headingley hero’s homecoming with victory to boost their play-off chances.
Burrow, 38, with wife Lindsey, received a standing ovation when introduced to the Rhinos’ faithful before kick-off.
The ravages of motor neurone disease has left the former player, described as ‘Superman’ by Leeds coach Richard Agar, confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak since his December 2019 diagnosis.
The dad of three’s appearance marked the official launch of his autobiography, Too Many Reasons to Live. But it was also a welcome opportunity for the Rhinos’ faithful to pay moving tributes to their former scrum-half who played 493 times for the club, scoring 198 tries.
This West Yorkshire derby often struggled to compete with the prematch emotion and outpouring of support for the eighttime Grand Final winner.
Following mum and dad onto the Headingley pitch were the couple’s two daughters and toddler son delivering the match ball to referee Ben
Thaler. More rapturous applause followed on the seventh minute to commemorate Burrow’s years of service in the No.7 jersey.
Leeds grabbed a 17th-minute advantage as half-back Callum McLelland produced a scurrying Burrow-esque break from halfway to send in skipper Ash Handley.
When the sides met at Huddersfield earlier in the season, Lee Gaskell’s lastditch drop goal earned Giants a 14-13 win – their first in Super League this season.
Another tight contest developed as teenager Will Pryce, son of exBradford, St Helens and Hull FC star, Leon, enhanced his burgeoning reputation with an equalising try.
Leeds full-back Richie Myler used his vast experience to touch down after Giants’ defence failed miserably to deal with Rob Lui’s grubber kick as Leeds led 10-4 at half-time. Ex-Huddersfield hooker Kruise Leeming provided the assist for Lui’s clinching try on the hour.
Leeds finished with 12 men after Zane Tetevano’s 73rd-minute yellow card for a late hit.
And while Sam Wood and Owen Trout grabbed late tries for the visitors, Rhinos held on as the South Stand hailed Burrow again through to the final hooter.