Just one of a number of dramatic moments in South Sydney's last-gasp win over the Dragons, Walker appeared to bump the game's leading whistleblower during a spat with Frizell late in the second half at ANZ Stadium.

t didn't attract a charge from the match review committee and it's understood the NRL didn't send a concerning act notice out to the Rabbitohs five-eighth, who has been one of the club's best all season.

Ironically, Frizell was the unwitting poster boy for the NRL's hardline stance on touching referees when he served a one match suspension for innocuously brushing past a whistleblower two years ago.

Asked about the incident, Walker said: "I didn't even realise I'd touched him to be fair. The ref didn't say anything and it wasn't until I watched it back [I noticed]. I wasn't even making eye contact with him. I was just looking at Tyson the whole time and I didn't even realise he was there.

"They didn't say anything to me when the penalty was made so I didn't think to worry about."

Zac Lomax booted a penalty goal after the exchange, but Adam Reynolds' second and third field goals for the match sealed a famous win for Anthony Seibold's side.

It has set up a repeat of the 2014 grand final qualifier against South Sydney's bitter rivals the Roosters, who they beat en route to their drought-breaking premiership four years ago. Not that those that were there are still savouring it.

Powerhouse prop Tom Burgess confessed to having never watched the grand final triumph in its entirety as he prepares to butt heads with a Dylan Napa-less Roosters pack.

"I've probably seen little bits of it here and there, but I don't think I've watched it the whole way through, to be honest," he said. "You try to focus on the now. It's a totally different year and a completely different season."

Tom labelled the Roosters the NRL's "benchmark" as Trent Robinson's side try to clear the preliminary final hurdle they've stumbled at the last three times.

Asked whether the Rabbitohs' fire still burns as brightly as 2014, Burgess said: "For sure, yeah. You've just got to want it. I think everyone does and you do [want it] every year, but it doesn't always go your way. I think you've just got to keep turning up, enjoying it and that's what it's all about.

"You work hard all year to be in this arena at this time of year so we're just looking forward to it and taking it all in."

South Sydney's co-owner Russell Crowe is known to send his players extra text messages in the week leading up to a clash against the Roosters, a scenario which won't change before an expected sellout in a farewell to Allianz Stadium.

"You feel how passionate [the fans] are about the team, and that goes the same with the Roosters and any other club for that matter," centre Dane Gagai said. "Any fan is passionate about their club and they want to do well.

"The two teams are next door neighbours and it's going to be natural they want to be the ones walking around with their heads held high."