Finally, after a 43-year wait, it’s Glory, Glory to South Sydney.
The most successful club in the NRL – having survived being booted out of the competition and resurrected in part by Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe – has a 21st premiership – the game’s longest title drought over at last.
Before 83,833 fans – the most for a decider at ANZ Stadium since the ground was reconfigured, Souths prevailed 30-6 over Canterbury on Sunday night – but the scoreline told little of the story.
This was a win for the ages, on the back of a performance that will go down in rugby league folklore – Sam Burgess playing all bar a few seconds with a broken cheekbone to evoke memories of John Sattler’s performance to play the 1970 decider with a broken jaw.
Burgess didn’t only play, he excelled, narrowly shading little brother George to win the Clive Churchill medal as he signed off before his switch to rugby union with a performance that will long be remembered.
“It’s a feeling you can’t replicate, I’m thankful to be in this position, humbled to play with a team like I played with all year,” Burgess said.
“Most of all, we did it for you the fans – it’s been a long wait, let’s enjoy it.”
Added Greg Inglis, who was never required to reach his best:
“Words can’t explain what I feel right now, I’m over-enjoyed by the experience.
“43 years we’ve been trying to bring that trophy back to Redfern.
“This is what we’ve wanted to do the last two years, it hurt us real bad, our boys just really dug deep and dug in tonight.”
None more so than Sam Burgess – who was left bloodied and bruised after a head clash with fellow Englishman James Graham in the opening tackle of the game.
“It feels like I cracked my eyeball in the first tackle,” he said.
“I just played on adrenaline, my teammates talked me through it.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to be sore tomorrow, but I’d do it all over again.”
It was Crowe that brought Burgess to Redfern in a move which kick-started the Rabbitoh revival, and now the investment had come good.
“It’s deep, deep satisfaction. But this is a team sport,” Crowe said.
“There’s been a lot of people involved over the nine years and a lot of effort gone in.
“It’s a grand reward for everyone who stepped up to the plate and decided that we weren’t going to put up with South Sydney being a losing club anymore.”
While Sam provided the narrative, little brother George provided the moment.
Having survived a concussion test earlier in the game – George’s devastating 20m run to beat four defenders and break a 6-all deadlock with just over 20 minutes remaining is sure to be replayed for years to come.
Replayed not only for its brutality, but also for its meaning.
After years of struggle – which included two years when they were booted out of the competition as a result of the Super League war, the pride of the league was once again at the summit.
Souths’ only error of the first half came on the last set before the break, but a deft Josh Reynolds grubber found a trailing Tony Williams to match the first half try of Alex Johnston, the scores amazingly locked at 6-all.
George Burgess left his mark seven minutes later, and an Adam Reynolds penalty pushed the lead beyond a converted try.
Graham’s head claimed another victim with Dave Tyrell flattened with a suspected broken jaw, but there was no dent on the scoreboard, the Bunnies adding three late tries via Kirisome Auva’a, Reynolds and Inglis as a tear-filled Sam Burgess signed off with conversion attempt that sailed wide after the siren.
Then came the song – Glory, Glory to South Sydney indeed.
