The week of the Super League Grand Final is always a highlight on the rugby league calendar, but for Jack Sinfield it carries an extra layer of significance. Jack is the son of Sir Kevin Sinfield MBE, a Leeds Rhinos legend who is currently undertaking an extraordinary endurance challenge: seven ultra‑marathons in seven consecutive days, stopping at each of the 12 English Super League clubs.
Since launching his first fundraising run in 2020, Kevin has helped generate more than £11 million for the motor neurone disease (MND) community, turning his personal quest into a national movement. Kevin’s final leg of the challenge will culminate at Old Trafford, where he will step onto the famous pitch and hand the match ball to his son, Jack. For Jack, the moment is even more momentous because it will be his debut appearance in a Super League Grand Final. Wakefield Trinity are set to face Warrington Wolves on Saturday, 3 October, in what promises to be a historic showdown – Wakefield are chasing their first title and could become only the sixth club to lift the trophy.
The convergence of these two storylines – a father’s marathon of hope and a son’s first taste of the sport’s biggest stage – creates a narrative that feels almost scripted. Jack has spent the past weeks missing his dad, who has been away on the grueling run.
He admits that the idea of his father finishing the challenge at Old Trafford and then handing him the ball seemed unimaginable when the plan was first hatched. "I’ve spoken to him a little, but he’s been exhausted. When he decided the final marathon would end at Old Trafford, I never imagined I’d be playing in the game that day.
It’s turned out better than I could have hoped," Jack said. Living at home, Jack feels the emptiness of his father's absence keenly. "It’s strange around the house when he’s not here.
I’m hoping to see him on Thursday when his route brings him past our neighbourhood," he added, highlighting the personal side of a public charity effort. Old Trafford is not an unfamiliar arena for Jack. He grew up watching his father lead Leeds Rhinos to seven Super League titles, and the stadium holds a trove of family memories. His earliest recollection of rugby league dates back to the 2004 Grand Final, when he was merely three weeks old.
He has attended every Grand Final in which his dad played, but the 2015 final stands out the most. "I was eleven then, and it was his last game for Leeds. The whole family was emotional – that match gave us the treble and left an indelible imprint on my memory," Jack recalled. He also confessed to the logistical nightmare of securing tickets, a task his father has mastered over the years.
"The past two days have been chaos trying to sort everything, but it’s worth it. These are the games you dream of playing in." Jack’s ambition has always been to follow in his father's footsteps and lift a Grand Final trophy of his own. Now, with the match only days away, the dream feels tangible. He keeps a photo of his father on his phone, taken during one of the earlier marathons, as a reminder of the shared journey.
"It was a special moment. I hope we can capture another picture this weekend – maybe after I win the match, but I’ll let him shower first!" The player‑of‑the‑match award for this year’s final bears the name of Rob Burrow, a close friend of Kevin Sinfield and a fellow MND advocate. The symbolism is striking: if Jack were to claim the Rob Burrow Award, it would complete a full‑circle moment, honoring both his father's charitable inspiration and the legacy of a teammate who helped shape the sport’s modern identity.
The Grand Final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+, kicking off at 6 p.m. with pre‑match coverage beginning at 5 p.m. The event promises high‑octane rugby, historic stakes for Wakefield, and a heart‑warming family narrative that transcends the game itself. As the Sinfields prepare for their respective challenges – one on the track, the other on the field – fans can anticipate a fairy‑tale climax that celebrates perseverance, legacy, and the unbreakable bond between father and son.