Kevin Sinfield will finish his seventh and final fundraising ultramarathon at Old Trafford on Saturday, where his son Jack will make his Super League Grand Final debut for Wakefield Trinity. The elder Sinfield passed through Wakefield on Wednesday as part of the challenge, which supports those living with motor neurone disease.
Father and son set for Old Trafford
Jack Sinfield, 22, will play at Old Trafford for the first time on Saturday as Wakefield attempt to win their maiden Super League title against Warrington Wolves. Kevin, who will carry the match ball into the stadium, first played in a Grand Final in 2004 when Jack was three weeks old.
“When he planned this last challenge and for it to finish at Old Trafford, I don’t think even he could have imagined that I would be playing in it,” Jack said. “So it’s worked out pretty well, right?”
Family pride and memories
Kevin’s fundraising efforts continued from Wakefield’s stadium on Wednesday morning, with a message of good luck delivered to the Trinity squad. Jack, who still lives at home, said he had missed his father during the challenge.
“It was really nice to see him this morning before he set off,” Jack said. “I’ve missed him a lot when he’s been away because I’m still living at home, so it’s really weird around the house without him! I’m hoping I’ll see him on Thursday when he goes past home and he runs up near our neck of the woods. But I’m so proud of him.”
Jack’s favourite rugby memory is the 2015 Grand Final, Kevin’s final match as a player, which ended with victory and Leeds winning the treble. “I’ve got that picture on my phone still,” Jack said. “It was a pretty special moment – hopefully there’s a chance to have another picture this weekend.”
Different paths to the final
While Kevin won everything as a Leeds player, Jack’s career took a different route. After coming through the academy at Leeds and failing to force his way into the first team, he signed with Wakefield last winter.
Jack has since played a key role in taking Wakefield to within one win of a first league title in almost 60 years. “It’s been a dream of mine to go there one day and emulate him and win one,” he said. “As soon as I spoke to the club, I knew I wanted to come here. They’re growing, they’re hungry to go and win things and so am I.”
Asked about contact with his father before Saturday’s final, Jack said: “I’ve spoken to him a little bit but obviously he’s just been really tired. Hopefully we can celebrate together after … I just hope he gets a shower first.”
