(Eds attention language in fourth para)
By Ben Horne
SYDNEY, Oct 5 AAP – South Sydney great John Sattler broke his jaw in the third minute of the 1970 grand final and played on.
It took modern-day giant Sam Burgess just three seconds in this year’s NRL decider to start spitting blood for the Rabbitohs.
Taking the first hit-up of the game, Burgess clashed heads with fellow Englishman James Graham and immediately told training staff and teammate’s he’d fractured his cheekbone.
At halftime, Channel Nine commentator Brad Fittler asked the lock how his cheek was.
Burgess, with claret spilling out of his mouth replied: “It’s f***ed. It’s gone.”
In that 40 minutes, the inspirational Englishman had punched out 113 metres, two offloads, a tackle break and 18 tackles with none missed.
His 13 runs were the most of the half and he returned for the second stanza.
Departing the NRL for English rugby union at the end of the season, Burgess was giving everything in his farewell match as the Rabbitohs seek their first premiership in 43 years.