An eight-year-old newspaper article has reminded South Sydney’s English prop Sam Burgess just how far he and his brothers have come in the NRL, with all four having played first grade for the Rabbitohs.

On Sunday, Thomas, 21, became the last of the four siblings to make his top-flight debut for the club playing in the ladder leader’s 30-10 win over Parramatta.

“I’m really proud of the way he performed. He just stayed calm and did his job for the team,” Sam Burgess said of Thomas.

Established English international Sam, 24, was the first Burgess to wear Souths’ famous colours back in 2010.

He was followed the next year by Luke, now 26, while Thomas’ twin George received his call-up to first grade in 2012.

All four of the brothers are strapping forwards who are more than 190cm tall and weigh in excess of 110kg.

As yet, all four have not been selected in the same first grade side for the one game, but that seems inevitable.

Sam’s feelings about the journey the brothers have undertaken were stirred by a 2005 article from their local newspaper back in England, which George sent to him on Sunday morning.

“We sort of said back then that we’d love to play together,” Sam Burgess said.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of playing in Australia together, but that’s the way things have turned out.

“I’m very proud of all my brothers. We certainly help each other and encourage each other through our careers.

“To all be at the same club and to have all played for the first team – not together just yet – is a great achievement.

“Hopefully we get that game together at some stage down the line.”

Thomas was given his opportunity to debut in first grade when George was suspended after admitting to damaging property in Cairns.

“George is a great kid. He will be fine with everything – he’ll bounce back from it,” Sam said.