BATH-BOUND Sam Burgess will get the chance to bow out of rugby league on a high after helping South Sydney reach the NRL Grand Final for the first time for 43 years.

The Rabbitohs came from 12-0 down to beat reigning champions Sydney Roosters 32-22 in front of a crowd of 52,592 at ANZ Stadium, where they will face the winners of Saturday's semi-final between Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith on Sunday week.

It means Bath will have to wait another week to get their hands on Burgess, who is switching codes at the end of the season, but England head coach Steve McNamara, the Roosters assistant, will be free to focus on the looming Four Nations Series.

The Roosters' defeat signalled the end of the distinguished career of former Australia full-back Anthony Minichiello, who scored two of his side's four tries, and brought Sonny Bill Williams' second stint in the NRL to a close as he heads back to rugby union in New Zealand.

Burgess, who moved to the NRL from Bradford Bulls in 2009, was joined in Friday's team by twin brothers Tom and George.