South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Canterbury Bulldogs comprehensively to win the grand final
9.52pm AEST
And Sam Burgess has just accepted the Clive Churchill medal.
On that note, Ill leave you. Thanks for your emails and your company. See you again!
9.50pm AEST
Russell Crowe and Sam Burgess embrace and close-talk and look deeply into each others eyes. Should they get a room? Who cares, weve got so much more to dwell on. Sam Burgess cheekbone, George Burgess epic charge, James Grahams granite skull, Greg Inglis brilliance, and a grand final that was brutal and captivating.
9.44pm AEST
The Dogs were brave tonight and held it together for almost an hour. But Souths just kept coming and when the dam burst it disintegrated. Yet the margin of Souths win doesnt reflect the closeness of the game and the Dogs can hold their heads up.
But tonight is all about the winners, and that brave performance by Sam Burgess in his last NRL game. He promised Souths hed help bring them into the promised land before he returned to the UK. And tonight he kept his word.
9.39pm AEST
The witch is dead and after more than four decades its Glory Glory to South Sydney once again. They fully deserved that win and there will be some party in Redfern tonight.
9.36pm AEST
80 min: For his last act in the NRL Burgess is given the conversion attempt from the left sideline. Through tears and a busted face he makes a decent attempt but it swings just wide.
9.35pm AEST
From broken play on the right Inglis comes inside and makes a bee-line across field, winning the race to the line! There may have been a forward pass in there but the video ref cant make a call on that. Inglis was jubilant as he scored and, yes, after diving for the line he gave the goanna one last walk for 2014. Brilliant finish.
9.33pm AEST
79 min: And Souths players are in tears. Burgess is bawling, Inglis too, everyone in red and green. Maguire is down on the sideline, Issac Luke is being hoisted into the air. Its almost over...
But its not yet! Inglis scores, we think. Gould doesnt care if its legitimate or not cause he doesnt want the moment spoiled. But the video ref makes his call...
9.31pm AEST
Reynolds adds the extras.
9.30pm AEST
Sutton chips over the top and the ball bobbles through the posts. Perrett races back to claim it but runs into the posts allowing Adam Reynolds to joyfully dive on the ball.
9.28pm AEST
77 min: Johnston catches a kick in his in-goal, races to the 20m and gobbles up good metres.
9.27pm AEST
And he does! Surely Souths 43-year drought is all but over. Rusty Crowe thinks so, accepting handshakes up in the stands.
9.25pm AEST
Yes he does! Souths can taste it now. Especially if Reynolds lands this from the left touchline...
9.24pm AEST
73 min: Is that a try to Souths?! Inglis kicks wide for Johnston and the ball bounces in the far left corner of the Dogs in-goal. But it bounces straight up in the air as Johnston and Brown overrun it. Auvaa trailing behind appears to touch down!
9.22pm AEST
72 min: Williams makes another bruising run but his attempt at a pass is knocked back by Keary and Souths fall on the ball as if it were a diamond as big as the Ritz.
9.20pm AEST
71 min: Another drop out! Josh Reynolds kicks for Williams, Johnston sees Williams running at him like something from his nightmares and with only one eye on the ball he drops it. He was lucky it was fielded by a teammate.
9.19pm AEST
70 min: Hodkinson chips for Josh Morris but though Souths appear to clear the ball from their in-goal Lote Tuqiri is called for a knock-on. Since he was in his own in-goal when it happened Souths have to drop out. Canterbury have a sniff here.
9.16pm AEST
68 min: Play resumes with Canterbury 40m out from Souths line. And after two tackles Tom Burgess hits Eastwood on the chin with the point of his shoulder. Penalty and Tom Burgess is on report.
9.15pm AEST
67 min: We still havent restarted due to the care taken over removing Tyrrell from the field. So both teams are getting a nice rest here, recharging for an explosive final 13 minutes.
9.13pm AEST
67 min: Canterbury run into a number of cul-de-sacs before kicking to Browns wing. But its overhit and Johnston catches it over the deadball line.
From Souths possession Tyrrell is hit by a sledgehammer called James Graham and hes out cold. Replays show Grahams head slamming into Tyrrells. Thats some noggin Graham has. But did he lead with his head? Souths fans might think so. Anyway, Tyrrell is being taken off by medicab. I think the ref ruled a knock on by Tyrrell despite the ball going backwards from the tackle. Knock backs are becoming increasingly uncommon.
9.08pm AEST
66 min: Relief for Canterbury when Tyrrell gives away a penalty for over enthusiasm. Or something. Canterbury begin their new set 45m out from Souths line. On tackle three, Perrett is hit around the neck by Teo as he falls. But theres no penalty. Why?
9.05pm AEST
From a similar position Reynolds reads his sextant right and raises the flags. A handy 8-point lead in the context of this brawl.
9.04pm AEST
61 min: Adam Reynolds takes a penalty shot from 41m out, just out to the right. But he misses left. Might that be costly? Maybe not. After getting the ball back, Souths receive another penalty and Reynolds will take another shot.
9.02pm AEST
59 min: Canterbury just hold on after Souths make huge metres. From Souths next set, Graham shoulder charges Tyrrell to hand Souths a penalty. Nothing malicious, but thems the rules.
9.00pm AEST
Routine, as much as kicks for goal in front of 83,000 screaming fans can be routine.
9.00pm AEST
One word for that. Barnstorming!
8.58pm AEST
56 min: Koroisau makes a nifty burst up the middle and Canterbury are on the back foot, their line fragmented. Two plays later George Burgess takes a ball from Koroisau and there seems to be nothing on. But he bumps off two tacklers, then another, then another and crashes over under the posts!
8.56pm AEST
54 min: Williams crunches into Souths left side defence and hoiks a backhanded pass to his winger, Mitch Brown. Brown comes inside and a kick is put in but Sam Burgess picks up the crumbs then heads into the tackle with a look of resignation on his face. This is going to hurt, it seems to say.
8.53pm AEST
52 min: So, after being on the back foot for the majority of the game, Canterbury have got themselves level. Theyll have their tails up now and Souths may begin to get a little nervy.
And heres a penalty to Canterbury, 45m out, when Keary makes a tackle after being half a metre in front of the Souths kicker.
8.51pm AEST
An easy shot from a few metres wide of the right upright.
8.50pm AEST
No doubt about it.
8.49pm AEST
Can they what! Surely a try here, after Josh Reynolds dribbles a ball in front of a speeding Tony Williams who crashes over. They are checking for offside but it looks good...
8.48pm AEST
48 min: Dylan Walker coughs up possession 10m out from his own line. Can the Dogs capitalise?
8.47pm AEST
47 min: Excellent Bulldogs defence keeps Souths at bay. Souths, however, made it easy for them running back in to the defence every time. Trying to hard to deliver what might be a killer blow, perhaps.
8.45pm AEST
45 min: Frank Pritchard is about to make his way onto the field. Canterbury, meantime, stuff up their count and get tackled on the 6th. More possession for Souths.
8.44pm AEST
44 min: Six more to Souths from 10m out! They throw themselves at the Dogs line but Canterbury hold firm. And when Reynolds passes to Burgess with Dogs hanging off him as if from a postmans leg, Burgess knocks on.
8.42pm AEST
43 min: No try to Souths but Adam Reynolds earns his team another set with a nice grubber into the Canterbury in-goal. Drop out.
8.41pm AEST
42 min: A stroke of luck for Souths when a Canterbury downfield kick hits a Souths player. Though Canterbury retrieve the ball their tackle count didnt restart as it wasnt played at, and they are tackled on the 6th. Souths get the ball. A full set 30m out.
8.39pm AEST
Inglis reefs it high to Josh Reynolds who drops it.... backwards. Bulldogs fans can breathe again.
8.38pm AEST
Here they come! Forty minutes to glory. Peter Sterling thinks that if Souths score first they win. Sam Burgess is on, his face looking like a relief map of Afghanistan.
8.33pm AEST
Just saw a replay of that Inglis run. It really was something. Stepping through the line, accelerating, weaving, defenders clutching at air. Shame it didnt end in a try.
8.29pm AEST
So not just a fractured cheekbone then...
It's official @SamBurgess8 has lost a tooth. Maybe a visit from the #nrlgf tooth fairy will make it ok.
8.23pm AEST
Well, that flew by. Brad Fittler attempts to interview Sam Burgess as he comes off. Imagine having a broken cheekbone and having just played 40 minutes of intense football. You just want to get in the sheds and take stock but heres Freddy in front of you like a charity collector! No-one knows for sure, but Burgess may have said, Its gone. Meaning his cheekbone.
8.20pm AEST
40 min: George Burgess fields the drop out and hits the line like a locomotive. Finucanes low tackle, a beauty, sees Burgess spill the ball. And thats the half...
8.19pm AEST
39 min: Souths are making easier metres than the Dogs right now. Can they find some more points? Not yet. But Canterbury are forced into a drop out when Sam Perrett has to ground a grubber.
8.18pm AEST
37 min: The Dogs cant find a way through Souths but a regulation kick to Thompsons wing bounces wickedly and Thompson tries to bat it up for himself but his attempt at magic doesnt come off. Souths ball.
8.15pm AEST
35 min: Another big run from Sam Burgess whos right eye is closing up. Now Morris is down after catching a Sutton kick. Jason Clark hit him around the knees while he was still airborne. Penalty Canterbury, who have been on the back foot for the majority but are only six points down.
8.13pm AEST
33 min: Perrett does well to collar a Reynolds grubber in his own in-goal with Rabbitohs all around him. Drop out.
8.11pm AEST
33 min: Gus Gould says the Dogs are missing Michael Ennis more than Souths are missing Issac Luke. That sounds worse than it is, Issac. He doesnt mean they wouldnt like to have you out there.
8.10pm AEST
32 min: Adam Reynolds gives wee Thompson more work to do after a raking kick as George Burgess emerges from the tunnel like a club lounge on the move.
8.09pm AEST
30 min: Josh Morris knocks on over the line! It came back to him from Williams and as he reached for it under pressure it came loose. Was he tackled without the ball? Maybe.
8.07pm AEST
29 min: Canterbury do well to absorb wave after wave of Bunnies. With the ball back, Josh Reynolds kicks a 40/20! The ref had to go upstairs to check. The Dogs are 10m out.
8.06pm AEST
No mistakes from the tattooed munchkin.
8.05pm AEST
26 min: Inglis goes on an epic run, like a man fleeing a sabre-toothed tiger. He zigged, he zagged, he surged, and he got Souths into Canterburys 30m. Moments later, Sam Burgess reaches out to score but hes just held back. In doing so Canterbury knock the ball out deliberately to buy time. It should be a sin-binning, but its a penalty from in front.
8.02pm AEST
25 min: Corey Thompson does well to take a spiralling Reynolds bomb. Canterbury look a touch fatigued here. Theyve done a lot of defending.
8.01pm AEST
23 min: Perrett and Thompson take turns hitting the ball up but Souths defenders are all over them like bathroom mould. The Dogs kick while George Burgess walks up the tunnel. It could be a concussion.
8.00pm AEST
20 min: From 10m out Luke Keary does the numbers and runs the blind side. A smart finish from Johnston, his 21st of the year. Reynolds misses the conversion from the left touchline. Souths will be delighted with that: finally some points to reflect their dominance.
7.58pm AEST
And we have a score!
7.56pm AEST
19 min: Now a penalty to Souths and theyre 30m out...
7.56pm AEST
18 min: Mbye makes a dash from dummy half and is hit around the chops by Keary and George Burgess. The resulting penalty sees the Dogs start their set on Souths 20m. But Williams knocks on. He was thinking about something else, I imagine.
7.54pm AEST
16 min: Souths make an interchange and Tom Burgess is on. Thats all three Burgess men on the field. A famous day for the family. Thats some achievement.
7.52pm AEST
15 min: Is there nothing James Graham cant do? Calligraphy? Spanish guitar? Pottery? Hes just missed a 40/20, the big man.
7.52pm AEST
14 min: Josh Jackson gets a mild slap across the face as he fields a Reynolds bomb. He goes down looking for a penalty but theres nothing in it. Up you get, Josh.
7.50pm AEST
12 min: Burgess packs into a scrum looking extremely dusty. Hell play the 80 minutes, says Andrew Johns.
7.49pm AEST
11 min: A mighty charge from Tony Williams, carrying four defenders like a carthorse hauling beer kegs. We dont see enough of that from him. Maybe tonight.
Meanwhile, Ray Warren is bringing up John Sattler at every opportunity. Sattler famously broke his jaw in the 1970 grand final but played on anyway. As you would. If you were tougher than me.
7.46pm AEST
9 min: The Dogs have settled here after a backs to the wall opening. Reynolds finds touch 10m out from Souths line. In the resulting set, Sam Burgess makes another charge, cementing his legend.
7.45pm AEST
7 min: A rollicking run from James Graham as Canterbury finally get their hands on the ball in Souths half. But Alex Johnston fields a tricky kick with the dexterity of a jungle cat whos a three-time winning of jungle cat of the year.
7.43pm AEST
5 min: After another Dogs turnover, Lote Tuqiri holds off some defenders and scores what may be a try! But hold everything, the ball came loose from Sam Perrett when he was hit high by Adam Reynolds. And yes, thats no try. Penalty Dogs.
7.41pm AEST
4 min: After a George Burgess rampage, Johnston on the left seems certain to score but hes pulled down a metre out. Then Reynolds kicks for his outside men but Josh Morris makes the catch to relieve some pressure for the Dogs.
The commentary guys are still talking about Burgess cheekbone. No change to the original diagnosis. Its broken. Ill keep you posted.
7.38pm AEST
3 min: And just when Canterbury claim a Reynolds grubber they knock on again, just 10m out from their posts.
7.37pm AEST
2 min: The Dogs drop the ball giving Souths a full set from 30m out from the Dogs line. Theres talk of Burgess having a fractured cheekbone but hes already taken a hit-up this set. What drama!
7.36pm AEST
Canterbury kick off and immediately Sam Burgess is crunched by Tolman and Graham and he comes up pointing at his cheekbone. A head clash with Graham. Id rather clash heads with a prime mover.
7.33pm AEST
Oh I forgot, the national anthem! As you were. Australians all let us rejoice yadda yadda. You know it how it goes.
7.31pm AEST
Finally, the Dogs are on their way! The atmosphere really does seem incredible.
7.30pm AEST
Ah, but heres Who Let the Dogs Out to herald the arrival onto the field of Canterbury. But hang on, they are staying put, making Souths wait. Souths may be wondering if the Dogs have forfeited they are taking so long to get out there. Good ol Des, ay?
7.29pm AEST
Bob McCarthy is on the field ringing an old-school bell, one used in Souths first game against Eastern Suburbs in 1908 which Rusty Crowe bought for $42,000 at auction to raise funds to save Souths. And now the Rabbitohs fans are singing Glory Glory to South Sydney. This is a Souths love-in at the moment. What if they lose?!
7.25pm AEST
Instead of the game being underway there are a bunch of women in tight black pants drumming. ?? Behind them the NRL trophy rises from a plinth in such a jerky way that I reckon theres someone hiding inside the plinth trying to lift the beast with his bare hands.
7.22pm AEST
Were almost there, folks. And yes, were late to kickoff. Like clockwork, the NRL (if that makes sense). While you wait, have a look at this vision from the last time these two teams met in the decider, way back in 1967. Souths won 12-10. Which will have no bearing on what happens tonight. Im sure of it.
7.18pm AEST
More news form Redfern, this time from Guardian sports ed Tom Lutz. Just walked home through Redfern with the dog. Suffice to say it was rather quiet, like people had something to watch on TV. Surprisingly the dogs not going for the Bulldogs - although hes a spaniel so I guess theres a little bit of inter-breed rivalry there.
So Mike is in Redfern, Tom is in Redfern... who else from the Guardian is in Redfern. Is there a party I havent been invited to?
7.15pm AEST
Hold everything! Ray Warren just mused whether Sam Burgess might be the toughest human being on earth. Thats some call, Ray.
7.14pm AEST
Heres something someone prepared earlier. Its nearly time. I wonder if these fans got a telescope with their price of admission:
One hour to go! #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/SKw6sqRkrQ
7.11pm AEST
My intrepid colleague Mike Ticher sends a pic in from the deserted streets of Redfern. Everyones either watching the game somewhere or thats some effort at crowd control from those police officers.
7.07pm AEST
Ashley Baxter in Swansea (Wales, I think, not NSW) reminds us that this game is merely a prelude to something greater: A Bunnies win would be good, but can we hope for a great game where the referee isnt the main talking point? This is all just a curtain raiser to the big one later today Oldham v Hunslet, the Championship 1 play off final, Oldham to make it 6th time lucky.
We all knew that, of course, Ashley. For those that didnt, for shame. But heres a primer.
7.02pm AEST
From New York to Singapore. Joe Buttleg (really?) emails from the steamy capital of Singapore. Singapore. Love your work, he begins, guaranteeing his emails publication, keep up the live cast.. sitting in a bar in Singapore waiting for these two teams to slam each other into next week!
Id be happy enough with tomorrow, Joe. But next week would be better, true enough.
6.58pm AEST
Des Hasler
And some fine words from Nick Tedeschi on Bulldogs coach Des Hasler.
Only four coaches in the history of the game in Australia have more finals wins than Hasler. They are a murderers row of coaching greats: Bennett, Sheens, Bellamy and Gibson. None have the two-time premiership winners strike rate.
It is little wonder players follow his every word like those German kids followed the Pied Piper, even if they dont truly understand the method to his madness.
6.56pm AEST
After Todd Carneys adventures in urination earlier this year, youd think the NRL would want to stay well clear of any reminders. But now, on the stage, we have Slash.
6.55pm AEST
Burgess (Sam) v Graham
The enjoyably idiosyncratic word according to Matt Cleary:
Burgess is the rock-and-roll man, the big whacker, storming runs of blood and bone, and jolting sweat. Hoo-ha, its great to watch Big Sammy thunder. He fairly tearsinto the defensive line athletic, muscular, coordinated and bloody rapid for a big rumbler. Hes hard and painful to stop, and capable of freeing an arm to offload for well, not Issac Luke, unfortunately for Issac Luke. But in Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, Dylan Walker and the great Greg GI Inglis at fullback, the Bunnies have men more than capable of capitalising on Burgesss aggressive, line-busting brutality.
Grahams work is more subtle. Not as quick, nor athletic, hes more a rolling boulder, his hit-ups have a well, soft is a long way from the right word. But he just sort of glides into the defensive line. Yet hes rarely driven back and almost always takes the right option at the right time. And because he offers so much with his hands, defenders hang off him. Hes almost a five-eighth. Indeed when the Dogs went through a late-season blip and Josh Reynolds was out often as not through injury, Origin or contravening rugby leagues laws, Des Hasler gave his prop forward long minutes, used him one off the ruck to set the speed men free. Grahams sterling work servicing runners is a key to the Bulldogs go-forward.
6.51pm AEST
God love him, my brother is the first to email me (cmon you lot, it can be a lonely old job, this):
As a neutral I am reminded of that adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and it would disappoint me least if the Bulldogs won. I also have a lot of admiration for the passionate and rough around the edges James Graham rather than the more manicured, media loved up Sam Burgess.
6.49pm AEST
Its not just league fans in Australia that are keenly anticipating this one.
An hour to kick off in NYC - crowd is rolling in and we are PUMPED! #nrlgf @NRL_Bulldogs @SSFCRABBITOHS @WWOS9 pic.twitter.com/yCJ6DTZp1Y
6.41pm AEST
Now Canterbury...
1. Sam Perrett, 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Mitch Brown, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 19. Moses Mbye, 10. James Graham, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Greg Eastwood. INTERCHANGE: 14. Tim Browne, 15. Dale Finucane, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Frank Pritchard
6.37pm AEST
The teams
First Souths...
Here's our team list for the 2014 NRL GRAND FINAL! #GoRabbitohs #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/3nurCeJOFf
6.35pm AEST
And a salient reminder of what pressure can do to... a watermelon. [WARNING: It does contain some swearing and such egregious narcissism that one can only hope its a joke]:
6.32pm AEST
Something else on expectations, in this case from the pen of Big Billy Shakespeare, former lock forward for Glebes Dirty Reds back in 1908. Its from Troilus and Cressida:
TROILUS:
6.29pm AEST
Canterbury supporters though not Des Hasler and his team Id reckon have been a little peeved this week what with all the love shown to South Sydney on account of this being the once-dominant clubs first grand final appearance in 43 years. But as I mentioned yesterday, this raises expectations and compounds pressure which the Rabbitohs players will do well to ignore.
If I was a Souths fan Id be a mess right now. Id also be jittery from not having slept at all well last night, disturbed as I was by the weirdest dreams. Or were they portents?
6.23pm AEST
The lay of the land
In case youve come here accidentally, or out of curiosity, let me paint you a picture. The rest of you talk amongst yourselves:
6.17pm AEST
And if Cathy Freeman isnt big enough for you, could it be that Henderson Gill is in the building?
Crowd is building, word must be out that Henderson Gill is in the stadium @JamesSmith1001 #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/ydRtuYh3oW
6.15pm AEST
There should be some atmosphere at ANZ tonight. One attendee knows a thing of two about the venue. Perhaps youve heard of her:
First time I'll be back at a packed @ANZStadium since Sydney 2000. C'mon @SSFCRABBITOHS! This is your year!!! #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/PbKfRMNLnY
6.08pm AEST
Too right you do, its NRL grand final day for crying out loud! At 7.20pm AEST (but dont set your watch by that, the NRL tends to use a sun-dial for timekeeping) the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs will duke it out for the 2014 NRL premiership. Two well-supported Sydney clubs, a full-house at ANZ Stadium, it should be huge...
or at least pretty big. That said, when you consider grand finals can sometimes fall flat (like last weeks AFL grand final), even biggish would do. You can just hear tomorrows water-cooler talk: How was that grand final last night, mate? Biggish!
6.05pm AEST
Paul will be here shortly with live coverage of the NRL grand final, between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs. In the meantime, we made a little video on what the grand final means in the clubs heartlands:
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