And, let’s face it, the Bunnies have been through a lot in their 106-year ­history. 

Sunday’s NRL grand final triumph over the Canterbury Bulldogs represented more than just the Rabbitohs’ dominance this year.

It was the peak in a sharp ascent that started 14 years ago when financial difficulty and the Super League war saw the Bunnies squeezed from the competition.

For non-supporters, it’s easy to forget that the club was out in the wilderness for two years. 

But Rabbitohs diehards have not forgotten that heartbreak.

In the first five years of their re-entry into the competition the Bunnies were slapped with the wooden spoon three times.

But they clawed their way back.

Mick Fairleigh and Paul Doherty have experienced the Rabbitohs’ ups and downs.

They were there in 1970 when Kurri Kurri-born John Sattler captained the Bunnies to grand final glory having played for 70 minutes with a jaw broken in three places.

They were there the following year when the Rabbitohs again won the competition. 

And they were there on Sunday when forward Sam Burgess echoed Sattler’s legendary achievement, by playing 80 minutes with a fractured cheekbone.

A head clash on the very first tackle with fellow British heavy hitter James Graham resulted in the painful injury.

But Burgess demonstrated to his teammates that the club was too close to premiership glory to back down.

It made him the first non-Australian to win the Clive Churchill medal.

Burgess’ achievement will become the stuff of rugby league legend.

Nineteen and 20 year-old fans, the ages of Mick Fairleigh and Paul Doherty when the Rabbitohs last ­tasted penultimate glory in 1971, will speak of it in 40 years. 

Time will not erode the indelible, unshakable passion that Rabbitohs supporters feel toward their historic club.