On Sunday the South Sydney Rabbitohs will play their first NRL Grand Final since their 1971 premiership win, facing 2012 runners-up the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.
It’s been 43 years since the South Sydney side beat St George to win their 20th title – more than 20 years before rookies Dylan Walker and Alex Johnston were born.
It’s been an incredible season for the Rabbitohs. A strong finish to the season has seen them win eight of their last 10 matches, notably beating minor premiers the Roosters 32-22 in the preliminary final, after going into the sheds at halftime 12-12.
The Bulldogs have had a much more workmanlike season. Finishing seventh at the end of the regular season and only winning five of their last ten matches, one could be forgiven for tipping a one-sided contest on Sunday evening. However the Bulldogs have recent grand final experience, and have shown that they can grind out a win against tough opponents.
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James Graham and halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson have put together their strongest season to date. The big-game nous of the Origin halves could be the one edge the seemingly destined-to-fall-short Dogs have over their cross-town rivals.
Both grand finalists will be without their first-choice hookers, with Michael Ennis ruled out with a broken foot for the Bulldogs and Issac Luke’s controversial spear-tackle leading to a suspension when his carry-over points were factored in.
As the captain, Ennis’ leadership and experience will be sorely missed, at a time when the Bulldogs need him most. Meanwhile, the lack of Luke’s energy around the park and his creative spark will be felt most keenly by Souths.
Two superstars who will face up on Sunday evening are compatriots Graham and Sam Burgess. The English powerhouses play different styles, with Graham drawing and passing before the line, and Burgess battering his way through before offloading, but their clash will – in the words of David Lord – be worth the price of admission alone.
The Rabbitohs will be hoping to send Burgess off with a premiership medal around his neck, before his new employment with Bath rugby begins. In the same way, the Bulldogs will want to send off injured niggle maestro Ennis in style before he joins cellar-dwellers Cronulla next season.
All the mail is pointing towards a South Sydney win, with the bookies installing them as $1.36 favourites to claim the NRL title. But with the Bulldogs surprising everyone with their form in this finals series so far, no one should be ruling out an upset.
| Winner | Score | Venue | Round | Year |
| South Sydney | 21-14 | ANZ Stadium | Round 25 | 2014 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 15-14 | ANZ Stadium | Round 7 | 2014 |
| South Sydney | 28-20 | ANZ Stadium | Round 24 | 2013 |
| South Sydney | 17-12 | ANZ Stadium | Round 4 | 2013 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 32-8 | ANZ Stadium | Finals Week 3 | 2012 |
Teams
Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Kirisome Auva’a, Lote Tuqiri, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Dave Tyrrell, Ben Te’o, John Sutton (c), Sam Burgess.
Interchange: Jason Clark, Kyle Turner, Chris McQueen, Thomas Burgess, Ben Lowe, Luke Burgess, Bryson Goodwin (three to be omitted).
Bulldogs: Sam Perrett, Corey Thompson, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Mitch Brown, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (c), James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Greg Eastwood.
Interchange: Tim Browne, Dale Finucane, David Klemmer, Frank Pritchard, Moses Mbye, Reni Maitua (two to be omitted).
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