6 huge grand final talking points

It s over. The Rabbitohs have ended their 43-year NRL title drought with 30-6 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis celebrate a famous victory. Source: Getty Images

IT WILL go down as one of the great NRL grand finals.

It had the hero, Sam Burgess. The villain, James Graham. And oh, so much history.

These were the biggest talking points.

1. SAM BURGESS ... SUPERSTAR

IN THE very first tackle of the match, big Sam Burgess charged the ball up for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and suffered a head clash with opposing English hardman James Graham.

Almost immediately, it was reported Burgess had suffered a fractured cheekbone.

His face swelled, his eye closed, but a brave Burgess produced an unbelievable performance to lead his side to a famous 30-6 victory, winning the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in the process.

"My face is a bit of a mess but I'll take it for the win," Burgess said.

That pretty much wraps it up.

And so does this comment from Sam's brother and teammate Tom, who declared: "Sam Burgess is my hero."

Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis let their emotion out after the Bunnies break a 43-year drought. Source: Getty Images

2. JAMES GRAHAM WAS IN EVERYTHING

FOR starters, the Bulldogs prop busted Sam Burgess' cheekbone.

He forced another Rabbitohs giant, David Tyrrell, to be stretchered off after another headclash. Only moments earlier, Graham had floored Tyrrell with a shoulder charge.

Graham was also at fault when George Burgess stormed over in the 57th minute.

The Bunnies fans were furious with him, booing Graham with every touch.

Sam Burgess has broken his eye socket after clashing heads with countryman James Graham in the first hit up of the grand final.

James Graham was shattered post-match, saying the Bulldogs' season meant "nothing" now. Source: Getty Images

3. THE DROUGHT IS OVER

ALL the talk in the lead-up was about the history at stake.

Souths had not won the premiership since 1971.

One of only two foundation members left in the NRL, the Bunnies had been through hell for the best of four decades — including being booted from the competition.

Now South Sydney are the champions.

"Everyone talked about 43 years and can and can't you do it, but the boys just believed," said Souths coach Michael Maguire. The 40-year-old wasn't even born the last time the Rabbitohs were premiers.

THE 43-year drought is over and the pride of the league is, once again, the pride of the league. Glory, glory to South Sydney.

Sam Burgess gets a hero's ovation. Source: Getty Images

4. GEORGE BURGESS' BARGING RUN

THE history books will show that Sam Burgess was the hero of the 2014 NRL grand final.

But with the game delicately poised, it was his younger brother George who produced the play of the night.

With the score 6-all, George Burgess once again proved he is unstoppable from close to the line, destroying three would-be tacklers before planting the ball down under the posts.

George Burgess charges towards the line in the play of the game. Source: Getty Images

5. THE MOSES MBYE TRIP

BULLDOGS hooker Moses Mbye was in a scuffle with Luke Keary and suddenly he sticks out the leg and trips the Rabbitohs five-eighth over.

The incident went unnoticed by the referees.

Luke Keary didn't let the Mbye trip impact his performance. Source: Getty Images

6. RUSTY'S BIG MOMENT

RUSSELL Crowe's undying commitment to the South Sydney Rabbitohs is finally rewarded.

The Hollywood actor has rescued the club, with both his deep pockets and deep passion.

Fitting, isn't it, that he described Sunday night's glory as a "deep satisfaction".

But Crowe didn't really want to talk about himself. Like many others, he wanted to heap praise on Sam Burgess, who leaves the Bunnies now and is headed to English rugby side Bath.

"He's carved his name deep into the history of rugby league," Crowe said of Burgess.

Asked by Channel 9's Andrew Johns what was next for the future of South Sydney, Crowe said simply: "More of the same."

Russell Crowe says Sam Burgess's Clive Churchill Medal performance has carved his name deep into the history of rugby league.

Russell Crowe savours the Rabbitohs' triumph. Source: Getty Images

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