He flew 21,000 miles to run just 26.2 but ex-Leeds Rhinos star Luke Burgess wouldn’t have it any other way.
The retired prop, 36, was back from Australia to take part in the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. It was important he did so for a number of reasons. Burgess played for four years alongside Burrow at Rhinos, including winning the 2009 Super League Grand Final together. Burrow - pushed around the course in his wheelchair by his incomparable former captain Kevin Sinfield and then carried across the finish line - was diagnosed with motor neurone disease four years ago.
Burgess, who moved Down Under to join his brothers Sam and George at South Sydney in 2011 with Tom coming later, knows plenty about it. He said: “I lost my dad to MND back in 2007 so I do have a connection to it. I was really happy to come back and support the marathon and the charity. It was a big occasion, not just for me but Rob and motor neurone disease.
