It has lasted over a decade, but a glorious chapter in Leeds Rhinos’ history is drawing nearer to a close.
Rob Burrow’s decision to retire at the end of the season means he will become the latest member of the club’s vaunted golden generation to no longer wear the blue and amber.
When the Rhinos won their first championship in 32 years by beating Bradford Bulls in the 2004 Grand Final, it was achieved with a homegrown heart.
The academy players who featured at Old Trafford included Richard Mathers, Mark Calderwood, Chev Walker, Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire, Danny Ward, Matt Diskin, Ryan Bailey, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Burrow.
With McGuire joining Hull KR from next season and Burrow hanging up his boots, only Jones-Buchanan is set to be the only remaining player from that side still at Leeds in 2018.
2 x @TheChallengeCup 🏆
3 x League Leaders 🛡️
3 x World Club Challenge 🌏
12 weeks to go 🗓️
1 Club
Thank you @Rob7Burrow 👏
In the coming weeks, Burrow and McGuire will aim to bow out on a glorious high by helping Brian McDermott's men to Challenge Cup glory and Grand Final success.
Burrow is currently recovering from should surgery but will be back in action next month during the Super 8s.
The 34-year-old half-back or hooker has spent his entire career with the Rhinos and has won every honour with the club as part of the golden generation.
A Castleford lad, Burrow took the Leeds club to his heart and belied his 5ft 5in frame with endless bravery on the field, defying his size in a brutal sport to become one of the finest players of his generation.
Burrow, who turns 35 in September and had an option to play on for another season, will take up a new role at Headingley in the player performance department, working with the club's youth and talent development programme.
Burrow rose through the club's Academy ranks to make his debut in 2001 in Dean Lance's final game in charge of the team.
In 2007 Rob won the club's Player of the Year and the Harry Sunderland Award as Man of the Match in the Grand Final before representing Great Britain in the Test series against New Zealand where he was named Player of the Tournament.
His performance in the 2011 Super League Grand Final will be remembered as one of the greatest ever seen.
Coming off the bench, he scored a superb try to set the Rhinos on their way to an unbelievable victory.
He won his second Harry Sunderland award in the match, a unanimous decision, picking up 100% of the votes.
Burrow said: “It has been an honour to play for Leeds my entire career and I feel now is the right time to move onto the next chapter in my career.
“I have been part of so many fantastic memories down the years and hopefully we can create a few more in the months ahead before I hang up my boots.
“Player development is something that has always interested me having worked with the scholarship for many years earlier in my career and seen players like Stevie Ward, Liam Sutcliffe and Ashton Golding come through from being schoolboys to first-team players.
“Hopefully I can pass on my experience and love of the club to the next generation in my new role.”
Burrow has appeared in 22 Finals for the club, winning seven Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders Shields and two Challenge Cups.
With Leeds well placed to land more silverware in the remainder of the season, the stage is set for Burrow’s career to end with a glorious crescendo.
