Julie Burgess was the proudest mum in the world after watching her four sons make history in Sydney.
The former Leeds teacher could not conceal her joy, celebrating alongside Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, as Sam, Luke and twins Tom and George Burgess helped South Sydney to a 32-18 win over Wests Tigers to go top of the NRL.
They became the first set of four brothers to line up in the same Australian side for more than a century since Ray, Roy, Rex and Bernard Norman all turned out for the now-defunct Annandale club in 1910.
It was also the only the third time that four Englishmen have played first grade for the same team in Australia.
Lee Crooks, Des Drummond, Deryck Fox and John Henderson did it for Western Suburbs in 1986, while Ken Ford, Derek Hallas, Mike Jackson and Ivor Lingard played together for Parramatta in 1964.
The Dewsbury-born brothers, who have a combined weight of 460 kilos, were all on the pitch at the final whistle and were quickly joined by their jubilant mother, who moments earlier was seen jumping for joy after oldest son Luke had scored his first try for the club.
Not that I follow NRL and if anyone asks me who I "barrack" for, I always say Manly, but only because I live over on this side.
I couldn't help but relate to this lady's pride in her gorgeous 4 boys while I was watching this on the news last night.
It makes all the pain and effort of raising 4 kids worthwhile.
