Leeds Rhinos and Rob Burrow will fight on against MND in 2021 - Sinfield

Burrow has been awarded an MBE for services to rugby league and the MND community and Sinfield reckons that will only spur him on to “keep inspiring, keep raising awareness, keep helping other families out there”.

Since being diagnosed in December, 2019, Burrow has inspired a series of fund-raising events, including Sinfield’s seven marathons in seven days which collected more than £2.6m for the MND Association.

“This just keeps MND at the forefront of people’s mind and Rob Burrow at the forefront of people’s mind, which is really important to us at the Rhinos,” Sinfield said of Burrow’s honour.

“His work won’t stop, he has been unbelievable this last 12 months and I have no doubt that will continue.”

Burrow has raised the profile of MND across the country and Sinfield added: “Any chance you can get where you can provide some hope to people and some support is brilliant.

“He just keeps doing that, every single minute.”

The former scrum-half, who was also inducted into Rhinos’ Hall of Fame this week, has a higher profile now than during his playing days which ended in 2017.

“Certainly, his playing career was outstanding,” Sinfield said.

“But the work he has done the last 12 months, the hope he has given to people, the inspiration he has provided, the comfort he has provided to so many families across the UK and world wide because he has been willing to speak about the challenges he and the family have faced, has been so inspiring.

“I am delighted for him and the club is really, really happy. We are chuffed to bits for him.”

Sinfield was made an MBE in 2014 and another of their former teammates, Jamie Peacock, received a similar award in the 2012 New Year’s Honours.

“I have really fond memories of being down there myself,” Sinfield said of the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

“They will have a great day, it is a day to be celebrated and enjoyed, not just for Rob.

“The whole family absolutely deserve it, it is a brilliant piece of news.”

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