England’s Sam Burgess sends South Sydney Rabbitohs to first NRL title in 43 years

In Sunday's Grand Final, Sam Burgess overcame an early facial injury to help inspire the Rabbitohs to their first National Rugby League title since 1971.

Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the 2014 NRL Grand Final match against Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney on Sunday. The Rabbtohs won the match 30-6. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images / October 5Show more

English forward Sam Burgess played with a serious facial injury suffered in the first tackle to inspire South Sydney to their first Australian National Rugby League title in 43 years on Sunday.

The Rabbitohs, who fought back from near extinction 12 years ago, won a brutal grand final 30-6 over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.

Burgess, who is leaving the NRL to play rugby union with Bath in England, suffered a probable broken cheekbone in a clash of heads with fellow English Test forward James Graham in the opening hit-up of the match.

Burgess played through the premiership decider with a swollen right eye to lead the Rabbitohs to their 21st premiership title and was named the Clive Churchill Medal winner as player of the match.

Souths led 6-0 at half-time in a ferocious contest before the Bulldogs drew level nine minutes after the restart.

But the Rabbitohs finished the better before a massive 83,833 crowd and scored three tries in the final seven minutes to claim victory.

It was an emotional match with Souths players in tears in the countdown to fulltime, realising that they had won the club’s first premiership title since 1971.

The match began sensationally when Sam Burgess clashed heads with Graham and pointed to his cheekbone, indicating to a club trainer that something was amiss.

But the rugged Burgess played on, running the ball and joining in tackles as his face began to swell.

Veteran Rabbitohs winger Lote Tuqiri was over the line in the sixth minute but his try was disallowed for foul play preceding the play.

Souths were getting on top in the physical exchanges and they scored in the 22nd minute through winger Alex Johnston.

Luke Keary caught the Bulldogs defence unaware and darted to the blindside for Kirisome Auva’a to send Johnston over in the corner.

The Bulldogs were fortunate that forward Dale Finucane was not sent to the sin bin for a professional foul when he appeared to stop a Souths play the ball on their try-line.

Instead Adam Reynolds kicked the resulting penalty for a 6-0 lead.

As Sam Burgess left the field at half-time he told a sideline television reporter that his cheekbone was “gone.”

Souths missed some attacking opportunities in Canterbury’s quarter before the Bulldogs hit back with back-rower Tony Williams scoring off a Josh Reynolds grubber to level the match nine minutes after the restart.

But the Rabbitohs powered home with tries to Sam’s brother, George, Kirisome Avua’a, Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis.

Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE