South Sydney hero Sam Burgess will undergo surgery on Monday morning to repair his shattered right cheekbone after helping his side win the NRL grand final.
Burgess was named the Clive Churchill Medallist after producing one of the most courageous performances ever seen to beat Canterbury 30-6 at ANZ Stadium.
The 25-year-old, who will head back to England to play rugby for Bath next week, clashed heads with fellow countryman James Graham in the opening hit-up of the match.
"The doc seems to think I'll need surgery on my face tomorrow. This cheek, it's gone inwards," Burgess said.
"I'd imagine I'll be getting it fixed over the next 24 hours."
Burgess, whose right eye was blackened and fully closed, said he never considered leaving the game.
Although he knew immediately that he had broken his cheekbone, he also revealed he never felt any initial pain and was deliberately not listening to the team's medical officials attending to him in case they told him to go off.
"The joy is over-riding the pain at the moment," he said.
"I wasn't really listening to what he (doctor) was saying to be honest, my teammates really helped me through the process.
"I just had to get on with it I guess ... nothing was going to stop me enjoying that ride and that moment with the team tonight.
"We've worked for this day from November 1, so there was no chance I was missing out.
Burgess's mother Julie said she was wincing every time her son went into a scrum and made a tackle.
"I wasn't happy, I don't like seeing him like that," Mrs Burgess told AAP.
"But he is a strong-minded boy and the will to beat the pain showed. I am very, very proud of him."
She was also delighted to see her other two boys George and Luke play a part in the Rabbitohs' first premiership in 43 years.
"Sam had his two brothers by his side, standing shoulder to shoulder, it's an amazingly proud day for my whole family," she said.
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