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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ca...burgess-brothers/story-fndv2wg4-1227080805268
JAMES Graham doesn’t spend $42,000 on old rugby league bells.
No, he rings Burgess brothers instead.
Hunting the famous siblings down like Predator in that Central American jungle, then ... claaaaaang.
And sure, today, that means nothing.
GRAND FINAL PLAYER RATINGS
Same deal the fact that, for some 60 minutes at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, the greatest underdogs in grand final history were not only hanging tough with the resurrected Rabbitohs, but locked six-all.
But if nowhere else, let it be written here.
For truly, it was as if Canterbury had not read the grand final script.
You know, the one that for six straight days had been explaining how George Piggins was back.
How Greg Inglis was Immortal, the Burgess boys unstoppable and Russell Crowe bringing out Australia’s most hyped bell.
Hell, there was even a fight for suspended skipper Issac Luke to get on stage and accept the premiership trophy.
But then ... well, the game kicked off.
And big James Graham, he threw himself so hard into countryman Sam Burgess that, somewhere in the ensuing collision of heads, the Souths prop ricocheted away with a shattered jaw.
A dejected James Graham at the end of the grand final.
A dejected James Graham at the end of the grand final. Source: Getty Images
And for the rest of that incredible story, go elsewhere on these pages.
For this is a Canterbury yarn.
One continuing 20 minutes later when, with the Bunnies having scored and order seemingly being restored, Graham again went and threw himself headlong into a Burgess - this time, younger brother George.
Whacked so hard he left the field with concussion.
And again, the way big Georgie came back - and the solo try he scored in the second half -- is already on Monday the stuff of legend.
But, please, weeks from now, when you finally shake that Glory Glory tune from your head, remember this: South Sydney’s triumph was all about coming back from adversity.
Not just for the past 43 years, but for a large chunk of 80 minutes Sunday night. An adversity, mostly, caused by Graham.
Especially when you recall how the Canterbury prop threw a ball for the Bulldogs opening try and, later, knocked rival No.10 Dave Tyrell completely senseless.
He ran constantly. Tackled and directed.
Throw in a shoulder charge and the best one liner of the night - telling the referee “I don’t know what the penalty count is, but I reckon we’re behind” - and it was a fair bloody effort.
Indeed, with nine minutes to play, Canterbury were on the attack and trailing only by eight. Far from finished. Game on.
And, yes, soon after it would be done and Doggies fans left to wonder ‘what if’?
Like in the opening 10 minutes when they dropped the ball three times inside their own quarter. Another two when attacking the Rabbitohs tryline.
It hurt.
And by the finish, order was certainly restored.
South Sydney had its premiership. Russell Crowe had another gong to go with his Oscar. And Michael Maguire asserted himself as one of the game’s great coaches.
Officially, Greg Inglis had his first title. George Burgess, out of brother’s shadow.
And Sam, well, he was chaired around the ground.
Waving, joking ... and smiling through a jaw busted by James Graham.
JAMES Graham doesn’t spend $42,000 on old rugby league bells.
No, he rings Burgess brothers instead.
Hunting the famous siblings down like Predator in that Central American jungle, then ... claaaaaang.
And sure, today, that means nothing.
GRAND FINAL PLAYER RATINGS
Same deal the fact that, for some 60 minutes at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, the greatest underdogs in grand final history were not only hanging tough with the resurrected Rabbitohs, but locked six-all.
But if nowhere else, let it be written here.
For truly, it was as if Canterbury had not read the grand final script.
You know, the one that for six straight days had been explaining how George Piggins was back.
How Greg Inglis was Immortal, the Burgess boys unstoppable and Russell Crowe bringing out Australia’s most hyped bell.
Hell, there was even a fight for suspended skipper Issac Luke to get on stage and accept the premiership trophy.
But then ... well, the game kicked off.
And big James Graham, he threw himself so hard into countryman Sam Burgess that, somewhere in the ensuing collision of heads, the Souths prop ricocheted away with a shattered jaw.
A dejected James Graham at the end of the grand final.
A dejected James Graham at the end of the grand final. Source: Getty Images
And for the rest of that incredible story, go elsewhere on these pages.
For this is a Canterbury yarn.
One continuing 20 minutes later when, with the Bunnies having scored and order seemingly being restored, Graham again went and threw himself headlong into a Burgess - this time, younger brother George.
Whacked so hard he left the field with concussion.
And again, the way big Georgie came back - and the solo try he scored in the second half -- is already on Monday the stuff of legend.
But, please, weeks from now, when you finally shake that Glory Glory tune from your head, remember this: South Sydney’s triumph was all about coming back from adversity.
Not just for the past 43 years, but for a large chunk of 80 minutes Sunday night. An adversity, mostly, caused by Graham.
Especially when you recall how the Canterbury prop threw a ball for the Bulldogs opening try and, later, knocked rival No.10 Dave Tyrell completely senseless.
He ran constantly. Tackled and directed.
Throw in a shoulder charge and the best one liner of the night - telling the referee “I don’t know what the penalty count is, but I reckon we’re behind” - and it was a fair bloody effort.
Indeed, with nine minutes to play, Canterbury were on the attack and trailing only by eight. Far from finished. Game on.
And, yes, soon after it would be done and Doggies fans left to wonder ‘what if’?
Like in the opening 10 minutes when they dropped the ball three times inside their own quarter. Another two when attacking the Rabbitohs tryline.
It hurt.
And by the finish, order was certainly restored.
South Sydney had its premiership. Russell Crowe had another gong to go with his Oscar. And Michael Maguire asserted himself as one of the game’s great coaches.
Officially, Greg Inglis had his first title. George Burgess, out of brother’s shadow.
And Sam, well, he was chaired around the ground.
Waving, joking ... and smiling through a jaw busted by James Graham.
