The Kiwi veteran Benji Marshall was in tears last night as his South Sydney team beat Manly 36-16 to win a place in the NRL Grand Final.

Marshall will make a new record for the longest gap between Grand Final appearances – 16 years.

The 36-year-old last played in a Grand Final in 2005 when his Wests Tigers team won the Premiership.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett has the chance to claim his eighth premiership as a coach, winning six with the Broncos and another with the Dragons.

The victory earned Bennett, who will depart as Rabbitohs coach at the end of the season, a 10th grand-final appearance.

Souths scored seven tries to three against the Sea Eagles

The Rabbitohs will face either the Melbourne Storm or Penrith in the grand final on October 3.