Zak Hardaker’s heart warming Rob Burrow story as he reveals Leeds Rhinos’ Magic motivation

Zak Hardaker may have only just re-joined Leeds, but he certainly gets the club on a deep level.

The fullback / centre spent five years at Headingley where he made his name winning three Grand Finals and the Man of Steel learning under some of Super League’s greatest ever players including Rob Burrow.

Hardaker, like everybody in our game, was rocked by the news in 2019 that Burrow had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease and has told the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel just how special it will be to wear a shirt honouring Burrow on Saturday at the Magic Weekend.

The kit was designed by Burrow’s children and his daughters Macy and Maya will lead the Rhinos out in the final game of Day One of the Magic Weekend.

Speaking about this, Hardaker said: “It’s massive, we got talking about the kits. It’s fantastic and the donation from the kits goes to MND, I think it’s fantastic and Rob’s daughters helping design the shirt and leading us out.

“A big occasion for Rob and talking about MND. It’s really important that we talk about it.

“What Cas are doing too is very special.

“Playing in that shirt will be very special. What we can do is go out and perform like Rob Burrow would do if he was playing in that kit and pay homage to him.”

he also recalled a heart warming memory about Rob which underlined his motivation for Saturday’s game against his former club: “I can remember that before Leeds Rhinos training for myself he picked me up and I remember sitting in my front room looking out for his car in my mum’s car. When he pulled up shouting “mum Rob’s here, Rob’s here.

“It just shows you how excited I was just for Rob to pick me up let alone train for Leeds Rhinos.

“He’s fighting his best and it’s great to see. He’s still Rob, still comical. It’ll be a great honour to play in that kit.”

Watch the full interview here: