NRL Grand Final 2014: Score and Twitter Reaction for Rabbitohs vs. Bulldogs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs won their first Premiership title in 43 years on Sunday, launching a full-scale assault on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the grand final, which ended 30-6 in favour of the Bunnies.

The new National Rugby League champions went into halftime as 6-0 leaders, but it was in the second half that this team's class really came to the fore, with the Rabbitohs' official Twitter account confirming the result:

And how significant it was that in his last game of league, Bunnies hero Sam Burgess would suffer a game-influencing blow in the first tackle of the match after colliding with James Graham.

The Bath-bound bruiser fractured his cheekbone as a result of the hit but played on to claim the Clive Churchill medal in an emotional ending to his Australian escapade, per Fox Sports and Rugby League Week:

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CLIVE CHURCHILL MEDALLIST: Sam Burgess! #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/48KcJTN4so

— Rugby League Week (@LeagueWeek) October 5, 2014"

That Man of the Match moment can't gloss over what a remarkable team effort this took from Michael Maguire's side, however, with five different scorers providing their five tries.

Alex Johnston notched the first just a quarter of the way into the fixture, and it wouldn't be until the 57th minute that Sam's brother George added to their tally, a moment which marked the opening of the floodgates.

Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Kirisome Auva'a, Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis were the other three names on the scoresheet as Reynolds also slotted five from the tee, Tony Williams providing the Bulldogs' sole score nine minutes into the second half.

It was always suspected that the glamour and glitz of this Rabbitohs team would be able to overcome the physical style of the Bulldogs, and that notion only became more prevalent as the fixture wore on.

ESPN Scrum quoted "Slammin' Sam" in noting just how much this fixture meant to him, lasting the full match despite his gruesome start:

Burgess now heads for pastures new in union, but the Rabbitohs, owned by actor Russell Crowe, can hope to build off the start of what they hope will be a new legacy.

Brad Walter of the Sydney Morning Herald believes as much, writing that there won't be another wait this long for the team to win another crown:

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Burgess and Ben Te'o may be leaving but they will be replaced by Glenn Stewart and Tim Grant next season, and the Rabbitohs have a glut of promising junior talent coming through the ranks. Players such as Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Luke Keary and Kyle Turner are the future of the club, and they have already tasted premiership success.

With funding confirmed for a new high performance unit at Maroubra, Souths coach Michael Maguire will ensure the Rabbitohs are never again the easy-beats they were for so long between the last premiership in 1971 and his arrival three years ago.

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Crowe was present at the final in Sydney, on hand to congratulate Bulldogs talisman Graham at the moment of his defeat:

Without Burgess among their ranks, the Bunnies will assuredly have a substantial void to fill in the months to come, a driving force of their team that one doesn't simply regain with the addition of another star or prospect.

However, their 21st Premiership title will at least be coveted for the time being, with the focus on the success the club can currently enjoy, with no fear of what the future holds moving forward.