NRL: Sam Burgess wants to sign off in style with South Sydney Rabbitohs against Canterbury Bulldogs

The NRL Grand Final will have a distinctly English feel to it on Sunday when the Burgess' at South Sydney Rabbitohs take on James Graham’s Canterbury Bulldogs.

Understandably, the interest in the build-up to the clash at ANZ Stadium has surrounded the head-to-head between Sam Burgess and Graham, two long-time international team-mates who have made a serious impact since leaving Super League to continue their careers Down Under.

For me, it doesn't matter that Sam's here and his brothers and wherever they are from, I'm just trying to do my best for the club.

For the eldest of the Burgess boys it is a huge match for two reasons – not only is he determined to end South Sydney’s 43-year title drought, he also wants to sign off in style at the club before he joins Aviva Premiership club Bath.

His departure will be keenly felt not just by his team but the sport as a whole; after being persuaded by actor and Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe to make the move in 2009, the forward has become a star attraction in Australia and a key cog in England's set-up.

Burgess – who will be joined by twins Tom and George in South Sydney’s 17-man line-up (the other Burgess in Sydney, former Leeds forward Luke, is not involved) – admits he is determined to finish his time with 'The Bunnies' on a high.

"We're totally grateful for everything the club's given us," he said. "I'd love to be part of the team that won the premiership while Russell was still in ownership of the club.

"Not only for Russell, there are hundreds of people I can name. For the team, the whole squad of 30, it'd be a great achievement."

British Bulldog

Graham – dubbed the ‘British Bulldog’ by the Canterbury fans – will be just as eager to come out on top for his own personal reason. Grand Finals have not been too kind to the prop, though he did taste success with St Helens in 2006.

Live Super League Grand Final

However he suffered five straight defeats at Old Trafford before leaving Saints, then lost another at the end of his debut season in the NRL.

The Bulldogs went down 14-4 to Melbourne Storm in 2012, during which Graham was caught on camera appearing to bite opposing full-back Billy Slater and subsequently handed a 12-game ban.

The 29-year-old has been integral this year in helping Canterbury defy the odds and make it all the way to the final; they finished the regular season way down the table in seventh and rather limped into the playoffs in poor form after registering just two wins in the previous two months.

Since then, though, they have turned things around, recording victories over Melbourne, Manly and Penrith to make it to Sydney. Graham is now looking forward to his battle up front with Burgess, though his major concern is making sure Canterbury just come out on top at the final hooter.

"We both play in the middle, so we're going to have to tackle each other,” he said.

"For me, it doesn't matter that Sam's here and his brothers and wherever they are from, I'm just trying to do my best for the club."

Graham will not have hooker Michael Ennis by his side this weekend, with Canterbury’s captain ruled out with a foot injury sustained in the 18-12 triumph over the Panthers.

The Rabbitohs are also without their first-choice no 9, New Zealand international Isaac Luke having been hit with a two-match suspension for a dangerous throw on Sonny Bill Williams during the win over arch-rivals the Roosters.