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).
Shouts Chen
Guest
I wish the South Sydney Rabbitohs the best of luck in the #NRLGF. They are improving well in their winning form and hope to break a 43 year premiership drought.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's almost starting to feel like it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You're very analytical sleiman...but geez you can take the fun out of things with facts and logic at times. :)
HRK1
Guest
I wish the Rabbits all the best in this weekend's GF. The last time the Rabbits were anything of note (in my lifetime) was when they became minor premiers in 1989 (I was in year 12). I can only compare this anticipation with other long droughts, but Manchester City FC's 2012 championship comes to mind. Prior to that season, Man City had a 44 year drought. During that period, at least two generations of fans have not witnessed the team win anything, as a matter of fact they had to endure relegation all the way down to the third division (and near bankruptcy). It was a long way back to the top and even when they returned to top flight, they were just considered chicken fodder / wooden spooners easy beats. Until a billionaire benefactor bought the club. Even then, success was not automatic. They still needed to gel as a team, have to endure a few seasons under the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours Manchester United. Slowly and surely, during preceding seasons, the signs were starting to show that they will be a threat. Come the 2011-12 season, they started the season so-so, hovering in the top three, until they made the final push at the business end of the season, and practically won the league with the LAST goal of the season (with a minute and a half to go). I think the Rabbits treaded similar path these past 43 years, and hopefully, a similar destiny awaits them.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Armageddon?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Most everyone in league talks rubbish. Pride of the league of this, finals specialists that, blah, blah. On a professional level, sport is entertainment. It requires rivalries, tensions and storylines. The commentators, certainly the modern ones, only understand the bandwagons created by these stories and this is what, in the main, the general public ride, media bandwagons. Regurgitating that bandwagon nonsense is fine, it's like watching an action movie or something and creative trash talking can be an art but geez, if you believe it... Go Glebe.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So what does souths being faves in 1967 and in 2014 signal?
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's this 'souths spirit' stuff that drives me up the wall. Souths are no different to any other team and their supporters are no different from any other (except for having fewer teeth and larger foreheads). If 'souths spirit' is such a tangible factor why has it taken them 43 years to make a GF? I'd be happy for souths to win if it wasn't for this souths spirit, glory, glory, pride of the league BS.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah that is right but in the 1967 GF the Dogs were a much better team then they are in 2014 and as far as Souths are concerned Souths were the favourites in 1967 and they are favourites in 2014. Doesn't that signal something? Well for mine I know the Souths spirit going way back to 1967 where I was at that GF and also all the GF's that Souths were in including the 1971, I don't think that the 2014 GF will be a repeat of the 1969 GF where the Tigers were shock winners over Souths. The Bunnies by 12+ (at least).
sheek
Roar Guru
I am just loving this buildup to Sunday's NRL grand final.. I have copped incredible personal abuse from frenzy-frothed rugby nuts because I criticize many of the teams in the NRC as having no history, tradition, heritage or tribalism. Basically no soul. They are purely manufactured entities, with little or no hope of connecting with their communities. It was reported close to 5000 fans attended the Rabbitohs last open training session on Monday. 5000 fans to a training session! Only once in the NRC to date has that figure been reached. And only once did it occur in the 2007 ARC. That's at an officially programmed match. Souths' history stretches all the way back to its beginning in 1908. Indeed, all the league clubs of 1908 adopted the same names & colours of their union brethren. Even back then, they understood the value of tradition & heritage. Canterbury's arrival in the big league dates back to 1935 & their impact was almost immediate, winning their first premierships in 1938 & 42. While Canterbury have enjoyed many days in the sun since, adding further premierships in 1980, 84, 85, 88, 95 & 2004. Their last grand final appearance was recently in 2012, when they went down to Melbourne. As has been well documented, Souths haven't won or even played in a grand final since 1971, while 1967 was the last time these two teams met in a grand final. I reckon it's going to be one hell of a match-up. The proud history, tradition, heritage & tribalism of these two clubs will have a lot to do with the outpouring of emotion this Sunday.
Jackson Porter
Guest
GI will be the difference, a class act, both teams have great forward packs and strong halves with brilliant kicking games but Inglis is a game changer from the back, put him down for two tries and best on field.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's a long cold English winter Sammy Squirrel. Better grab those nuts while you can.