The Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters are off to the big dance following their thrilling 32-31 victory over the Griffith Black and Whites in the Group 20 Major Semi-final at Solar Mad Stadium last weekend.
Described as the typical “tale of two halves” by Roosters player-coach and former NRL Gold Coast and Wests Tigers player Ben Jeffery, it was Griffith's game to win when leading 26-0 at halftime.
Griffith took advantage of an ill-disciplined Darlington Point-Coleambally outfit as Sireli Vulaono, George Broome, Epeli Serukabaivata, and Semisi Liu crossed in the first half-hour of play.
When William Charles scored just before the break - and with Stephen Broome’s three goals - it appeared the Black and Whites were on their way to the Grand Final.
The Rugby League gods can be a fickle bunch and their light switched to Darlington Point-Coleambally (above picture by Liam Warren) in the second half.
Inspired by a Jonathan Sila double early, the Roosters scored four answered tries to trail 26-20 after 64 minutes.
Broome slotted a field goal shortly afterwards and with 15 minutes left the Black and Whites held a seven-point advantage.
The Roosters wouldn't be stopped with Guy Thompson and Ben Jeffery scoring to take Darlington Point-Coleambally ahead 32-27 in the dying minutes.
Like any good match, the result was left until the final play. Chris Latu scored in the last minute, with Broome left to kick a difficult conversion to grab the win for Griffith.
"Stephen Broome is normally ice cold and a good kicker," Jeffery said.
"I had him getting it, but he missed it in pretty tough conditions."
While happy to be Grand Final bound, Jeffery said it wasn't the performance he wanted from his Roosters leading into the season's biggest game.
"We were down a lot at halftime, and we were extremely average," he said.
"We gave away a heap of penalties and dropped too much ball, and to get away with a win, we are very lucky.
"The game flipped on its head in the second half, and they did exactly what we did, and we were good enough to score enough points, but you don't always get that lucky.”
Griffith still has a chance for revenge in Group 20 but they will need to beat Leeton first in the Preliminary Final on Sunday (10 September) at Darlington Point Sportsground.
Jeffery couldn't pick one rival over the other when asked who the Roosters would be playing in the Grand Final.
"I'll be sitting on the fence," he said.
"If the Black and Whites play like they did against us in the first half and do it for both halves, they'll be had to beat
"Still, when you play Leeton, and you give them penalties and good ball, they can do the same thing and they are the reigning premiers."
