Sir Kevin Sinfield is set to assume the honour of presenting the Super League Grand Final match ball during what will be his seventh and ultimate fundraising endeavour. The ceremony will take place at the iconic Old Trafford stadium on 3 October, with the event broadcast live on Sky Sports. The former Leeds Rhinos captain and ex‑England skipper has become synonymous with marathon‑style charity runs aimed at supporting the motor neurone disease (MND) community throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Since launching his first annual challenge in 2020, Sinfield and his dedicated team have raised in excess of £11 million for a range of MND‑related charities.
This year’s undertaking will be his most ambitious yet: an ultra‑marathon each day for a full week, covering a circuit of every English Super League club’s home ground before culminating at the Grand Final venue. The journey begins on Sunday 27 September at the Hull Kingston Rovers stadium, the home of the reigning world‑club champions. From there, Sinfield will travel to the remaining eleven English Super League venues, running a grueling distance each day and stopping to engage with fans, club officials and local supporters. The final leg of the trek will bring him to Manchester’s Old Trafford, where he will hand the match ball over to the players who will contest the season‑ending showdown on Saturday 3 October.
For Sinfield, this final run holds a deep personal resonance. It offers a chance to “bring it back home” to the rugby league community that has supported his cause for six years, and to revisit stadiums where his close friend Rob Burrow once terrorised opposition defenses. Old Trafford, in particular, is a site of special meaning because it was there that Burrow scored what many consider the greatest Grand Final try in 2011, a moment that cemented his legacy and inspired Sinfield’s own charitable mission.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Sinfield reflected on the significance of the venue: “I think it’s nice to bring it back home to the rugby league community. This is where it all started for Rob.
To visit some venues where he terrorised opponents is particularly special and to finish at Old Trafford is great. Rob scored, in my opinion, the greatest Super League try, greatest Grand Final try ever.
He won eight Grand Finals.” Sinfield also highlighted the broader support the sport has shown for the MND cause. He recalled the massive turnout at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final held at Old Trafford, noting that the crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable even though England were not competing.
“We were all hoping and expecting, so it doesn’t matter which teams are in the final. I think the love for Rob, the support, the love for the MND community will shine through and I am incredibly proud of the way rugby league has come together again and continues to do, to look after its own, and it will be a really special night,” he said. Rhodri Jones, the commercial managing director of the Rugby League and interim chief executive of the RFL, praised Sinfield’s contributions: “Sir Kevin is one of the most iconic names in Super League history.
He is synonymous with Grand Final night and his remarkable endeavours, all those epic running challenges we have seen over the years in support of his great friend Rob Burrow and the MND community, remain an inspiration to us all. As a competition, we are delighted he’s now bringing the ball to the centre stage at Old Trafford ready for the biggest 80 minutes of the season when everything is on the line and the latest Betfred Super League champions are crowned.” The challenge will benefit six charitable organisations: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association. Donations can be made through the dedicated fundraising page linked to the campaign.
In addition to the marathon, the Super League play‑offs will be underway throughout the week, offering fans a full slate of high‑stakes matches leading up to the Grand Final. The schedule includes: - Friday 18 September: Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards, kickoff 8 pm on Sky Sports - Saturday 19 September: Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR, kickoff 5:30 pm on Sky Sports - Friday 25 September (Semi‑Final 1): Leeds Rhinos vs TBD, kickoff 8 pm on Sky Sports - Saturday 26 September (Semi‑Final 2): Wigan Warriors vs TBD, kickoff 5:30 pm on Sky Sports These fixtures will be broadcast live, providing a week of intense competition that culminates in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October. Sinfield’s marathon will run in parallel, creating a powerful narrative of perseverance, community spirit and charitable giving that underscores the season’s climax. By combining his physical endurance challenge with the drama of the play‑offs, Sinfield hopes to raise both awareness and funds for those living with MND.
He acknowledges that the final seven‑day run will be “yet another arduous and challenging” test, but he remains confident that the rugby league family will rally behind him, as they have done in previous years. Supporters are encouraged to follow his progress, share updates on social media, and contribute to the fundraising effort. The collective aim is not only to meet financial targets but also to keep the conversation about MND in the public eye, honour Rob Burrow’s legacy and demonstrate the solidarity that defines rugby league culture.