ROB WAS SO CHEEKY AND HAD THE HEART OF A THOUSAND LIONS

Sam Burgess pays tribute to his inspirational former England team-mate

- DAVE CRAVEN

SAM BURGESS paid tribute to Rob Burrow by hailing the rugby league great's "heart of a thousand lions".

Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow died aged just 41 on Sunday after a four-and-a-half year battle with motor neurone disease.

Warrington boss Burgess, speaking ahead of Saturday's Challenge Cup final Wembley showdown with Wigan, played alongside the brilliant scrumhalf for England and Great Britain.

He also faced Burrow numerous times in Super League while Burgess own father Mark also died from MND in 2007, so he knows only too well just how horrific the disease truly is.

He said: "I'd obviously known Rob for a long time.

"It is a horrible disease. We all knew that four-and-a-half years ago. "It's a really sad day. It's tragic news. But we all knew it was coming at some stage: it's the reality of MND.