Rugby League analysis: Looking at the playing career of Sir Kevin Sinfield
The former Leeds Rhinos player was recently knighted in honour of his successful rugby league career and the huge amount of fundraising he has done for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Sir Kevin has made many headlines over the past few years for his support of MND charities but his time as a rugby player is just as successful, writes Sports News Blitz’s rugby league fan Tom Down.
Fundraising for MND
Inspired by his late friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, Sir Kevin has raised more than £11 million for charities to support research, families affected those suffering with the muscular condition.
A notable moment came in 2023 during the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, where Sir Kevin had been pushing Burrow in a specialised wheelchair throughout the race.
Before the finish line, Sir Kevin unbuckled Burrow and picked him up, carrying him in his arms over the line.
It was a symbolic moment of how much Sir Kevin was prepared to hold the weight and suffering of his team-mate and anyone else affected by the disease.
This year, he will be completing his final annual challenge which will see him take on seven ultra-marathons in seven days.
It will start on September 27 at Rugby League World Club champions Hull KR’s stadium and will see him visit all 12 Betfred Super League Stadiums before finishing at Old Trafford on October 3 for the Super League Grand Final.
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Sir Kevin’s rugby career
Although the work he has done in support of MND is brilliant, it cannot be forgotten that Sir Kevin is a legend both for Leeds Rhinos and rugby league as a whole.
He made his debut against Sheffield Eagles back in 1997, and went on to make 521 appearances as a loose forward, scoring 86 tries and converting a huge 1792 goals for the Rhinos.
Considered as the greatest captain of all time for the Rhinos, Sir Kevin helped his team to win seven Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, three World Club Cups and three League Leaders’ Shields.
Sir Kevin also has a vast amount of individual achievements that include being the highest points scorer in the clubs history and the third all time points scorer in the history of rugby league.
As well as this, he’s been awarded the Lance Todd Trophy, the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice and the IRL Golden Boot.
The list of accolades also includes 26 England caps, most consecutive Super League games scored in (52) and the only player to captain a team to three consecutive Super League titles.
Sir Kevin ventured into rugby union for the final year of his playing career, representing Yorkshire Carnegie in the 2015-16 season before retiring in 2016.
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