Former Castleford Tigers Man of Steel Luke Gale's emotional tribute to Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow
Former Leeds Rhinos captain Luke Gale has paid tribute to Rob Burrow on the eve of the 745 Game at AMT Headingley in the late scrum-half’s honour.
Burrow - along with former Gloucester and Leicester rugby union player Ed Slater - devised the concept for a hybrid rugby game before his death from motor neurone disease (MND) in June. Proceeds from Sunday’s match, between teams of league and union greats, which kicks-off at 3pm. will be donated to MND causes.
Gale was one of Burrow’s successors as Rhinos scrum-half following the eight-time Grand Final winner’s retirement in 2017. Outlining what taking part means to him, Gale - who is in the league squad - said: “ It is poignant because I was the seven at this club, the number Rob graced for so many years.
“I could never do it justice, even if I played for 25 years. I have still got my shirts from Leeds, when I had the seven and they will be with me forever.
“I was an academy junior at Leeds, I came through and did one pre-season. Rob and Danny [McGuire] were just starting their career and I knew from early on I would have to make my Super League debut away from them two. As it transpired, they went on to be one of the greatest half-back pairings of the Super League era.
“Rob scored so many great tries, in big games as well. When I came back to Leeds, I remember Rob gave our shirts out for the Challenge Cup [final] in 2020. I have still got that number seven, it’s one that holds a great place for me. I won’t ever let that one go, it meant so much.
“Rob has done so much for this club, for our game and for MND. He didn’t have to be so open about it, but the way he has gone about it, it’s everything he was as a player.”
Gale is now Wakefield Trinity academy coach after hanging up his boots last month. He is set to play at scrum-half for the league side, but joked: “They’ve been telling me the teams - I might not get picked. I have seen the rule that you can come on and kick goals, so that might be one for me. There’s so many great players willing to play, in so many different shapes and sizes - I might have a bit of an advantage, because I am only three or four weeks retired.”