BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Gareth Ellis has praised the historic hybrid ‘745 Game’ at Headingley and has backed it to be played against next year.
More than 10,000 people turned up to see a team of ex-rugby league legends take on a team of ex-rugby union legends in a hybrid match with a mixture of league and union rules.
The game was the idea of Rob Burrow and Ed Slater, and was staged to raised money and awareness of MND.
Former Super League and NRL great Ellis, who also represented Great Britain and England, starred for ‘Team Burrow’ on Sunday. The 43-year-old, who retired for the second and final time at Hull FC in 2020, hailed the concept.
“It was good, I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Carrying on their legacy and raising the profile of something that’s so important to everyone in rugby league really. We get so much out of it as well, it’s so enjoyable.
“We spent a weekend, we trained on Saturday, we stayed over in a hotel. We had a little camp, it was fantastic. Mixing with the union boys as well was fantastic.
“I remember being a kid and Wigan played Bath and there was a bit of needle in that, a bit of animosity between the two codes. It was almost like one against the other, [but] this was just brilliant.
“I don’t know what’s happened but there’s so much respect for each other these days. It’s brilliant to see. They’re a great bunch of boys and we’ve had a lot of fun this weekend.”
Ellis is supportive of the ‘745 Game’ being held again in 2025.
“It’d be nice to have it every year,” he said.
“It’s been played in really good spirits and I know everyone’s enjoyed it. Ask me tomorrow and my answer might be different.
“The knees are already swelling up as I’m walking off the field. The bigger picture is we’ve raised… was there 10,000 people out there? What a great crowd.
“So hopefully it was entertaining and we can look to do it again in the future.”
Ellis still looks in great nick despite hanging up his boots four years ago. The league side finished 33-21 winners.
“If I could play once every three months I’d be alright,” he laughed.
“Once you get into it… don’t get me wrong, your head can do more than what your legs are capable of. But everyone’s in the same boat, it was a really enjoyable weekend.
“We trained yesterday and there wasn’t much contact. I think they [the union players] were a bit worried about how it was going to be, because the rules were stacked a little bit in rugby league’s favour.
“But once you get fatigue in there and a little bit of contact, it levels the playing field a little bit.”
