The roaring Redfern Oval crowd drowned out South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis’ first words when he stepped up to the microphone.

The raucous shouts of an estimated 10,000 delirious fans at their spiritual base broke just long enough to hear the words they had been waiting 43 years to hear.

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“The premiership is back in Redfern, back where it belongs,” a hoarse Inglis yelled into the microphone, and the crowd roared again. “The longer the wait, the sweeter it tastes.”

The joy at Redfern crossed the generations. Photo: Getty

The streets in and around Redfern were awash with red and green on Monday as Souths celebrated Sunday night’s 30-6 NRL grand final win over Canterbury – their first premiership since 1971.

Traffic was at a standstill, with a significant police presence, and the queue to get into the famous ground stretched halfway around the block.

Grand final hero Sam Burgess, with blue bruising on his battered face – and beneath an imitation Akubra – was cheered like few Englishmen have ever been cheered in Australia.

Sam Burgess was everyone’s favourite Englishman. Photo: Getty

“This will stay with me forever, what we have achieved here and the friends I have made,” declared Burgess, the Clive Churchill medal still swinging from his massive neck.

Burgess attended the celebrations rather than go in for surgery on his cheekbone, which was shattered in the opening tackle of the grand final.

The rugby-bound backrower will undergo surgery on the injury on Tuesday.

“But first I have to get this face fixed up.”

Burgess will join English rugby club Bath later this month as he bids to play for England in the rugby world cup next year.

Skipper John Sutton with the spoils of victory. Photo: Getty

He will leave behind brothers Sam, Thomas and Luke and a legacy as big as John Sattler’s at Redfern.

It is unlikely, but Burgess wouldn’t rule out a return to South Sydney after his time with rugby.

“You never say never,” he said.

Chief executive Shane Richardson spoke of the “enormous anger” he witnessed when joining the club 10 years ago, shortly after their readmission to the NRL after being excluded from the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

“The most important thing today is that Souths fans are happy again,” Richardson said. “The best part of this is to see all those happy faces out there.”

Chairman Nick Pappas, a key figure in the fight for reinstatement, also spoke from the stage in the centre of the ground.

The biggest cheers were then reserved for the players as they came out mostly wearing sunglasses, and then for captain John Sutton and coach Michael Maguire carrying the Norm Provan and Arthur Summons trophy that symbolises NRL supremacy.

After about an hour of non-stop cheering, high-fives with the fans and endless photos on smartphones, it was time for the players and the crowd to depart.

The final words were left to the man who has played more games for Souths than any other.

“We will be celebrating this for at least another week,” Sutton said.

And the crowd went up again.

Even the police horses at Redfern Park are #redandgreen #gorabbitohs pic.twitter.com/N1MG9E9pDP

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 6, 2014

Celebrating the day after the night before #GoRabbitohs @SSFCRABBITOHS pic.twitter.com/oglDTCohkx — Enrique (@enriqueaplus9) October 6, 2014

Well done @SSFCRABBITOHS #gorabbitohs (@ Redfern Oval in Sydney, NSW) https://t.co/qhKRfJt4cc pic.twitter.com/X9RrVjzkhs

— Sean Callanan (@seancallanan) October 6, 2014

Congratulations To South Sydney Rabbitos. #GloryGlory #GoRabbitohs #NRLGF #PrideoftheLeague #TwentyOne #2014Premiers pic.twitter.com/aXH7eRiE03 — RBD (@R_ByDesign) October 6, 2014