'Simply the best': Rob Burrow's wife pays tribute after his death, as best friend Kevin Sinfield says he is 'heartbroken'
3 June 2024, 18:44 | Updated: 3 June 2024, 19:20
Kevin Sinfield said he was "pretty heartbroken" as he paid tribute to his friend Rob Burrow after his death of motor neurone disease, as his wife called the former rugby league star "simply the best".
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The death of the former Leeds Rhinos player was announced on Sunday after a five-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND) aged 41.
His wife Lindsey said: "Although we knew this day would arrive, I am somehow still feeling at a loss for words that our loving, kind, caring husband and father has departed.
"I was incredibly proud and fortunate to call Rob my husband. I am unbelievably proud of the campaigning he's done to raise awareness and the millions of pounds that have been raised in his name for MND charities.
"I would like to thank the Rugby League community and everyone for their outpouring of love and support since Rob's diagnosis. I truly appreciate every message of support, and fundraising that has been done.
"My priority is to make Rob proud, and to bring our three children up as Rob would want and ensure their happiness and wellbeing.
"We will continue to keep Rob's legacy alive. We will continue to 'bang the drum' and do our best to try and help others. We take comfort from how much people's love and continued support meant to Rob through his most vulnerable times.
"He was simply the best."
Mr Sinfield said the loss was "pretty raw still" as he attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds on Monday alongside members of his family.
Fighting back tears, he said: "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 who's so special to so many different people.
Sinfield said Burrow was "a superhuman superman in a game of big, strong athletes".
He told the BBC: "Then to come here today and see some of the fruits of Rob's work, he was so proud of this and we've heard they're going to try and build it in record time now, because that's what Rob did, he broke records.
"He wanted people to have a better outlook on life, he wanted people to have hope, he wanted to find a cure for this disease."
Before his death, Burrow had spearheaded a £6.8 million appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a centre for those with MND living in and around the city.
Since Burrow's death was announced on Sunday evening, the appeal has received more than 1,000 donations.
Sinfield said: "I'm sure there'll be a big photo of Rob in this building and I'm sure there'll be some little kids who walk through with parents and grandparents and relatives who ask 'who's that' - and I'm also very, very sure that the answer that they'll get is 'he was the legend behind this building' and that's some legacy for him to leave."
"As you can see, it's pretty raw still.
"He'll leave a massive hole and I know there will be a lot of people out there who are heartbroken this morning at the news from yesterday.
"What's really important is Rob Burrow continues to live forever. I'm sure the MND community and everyone who's supported us previously will make sure that Rob's name is at the forefront of everything we do going forward."
Wife Lindsey said the father-of-three wished for ground to be broken today so work could start on the new £6.8million purpose-built care centre which he spearheaded fundraising efforts for.
This morning his friend Phil Daly said that despite the grief following his loss, "Rob wouldn't want us to waste a day" in the battle with MND.
The 41-year-old had helped raise money for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, in the years following his diagnosis.
In a personally signed message on X, the Prince of Wales wrote: "A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart. He taught us, 'in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.'
"Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy. W".
Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for his services to rugby league and the MND community and was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
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