Greenbank Raiders advanced into the Open 3 South grand final against St Brendan’s after a nail biting 24-22 win over Logan City Hawks.
In what was a good old-fashioned hard game of rugby league, both sides were certainly left bruised and battered by fulltime.
Considering the Raiders have now made it into the big dance from fifth spot was in a feat in itself and they are not too be taken lightly this weekend.
Greenbank was first on the scoresheet in the 15th minute through livewire fullback Jacob Black.
Black's turn of speed from the halfway line turned the Hawks defence inside out, as he raced away to score untouched under the posts.
In what was a heated first 20 minutes, both sides locked horns on more than once occasion, with the referee dispatching a Hawks player to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle.
With only twelve men on the field, the Hawks were unable to suppress the overlap out wide and Raiders centre Fatu Vakauta powered his way over the line.
Black's superb sideline conversion never looked like missing and the Raiders were enjoying a 12-0 lead early on.
Not two minutes later in a mirror image, Greenbank took advantage of the 12-man Hawks, with Vakauta crossing in similar style for his second try of the afternoon.
Black's sharp-shooting boot nailed the sideline conversion and with an 18-0 lead, the Raiders looked like they were going to rack up a cricket score.
But hold the phone.
With the Hawks back to a full squad, hulking replacement forward Letoe Perrin Solomona took matters into his own hands in the 29th minute.
The giant front rower took a short pass from 10m out and he was no match for the Raiders backs, crashing over beside the sticks to put Logan City on the board.
Three minutes later the Hawks crossed again, this time through prop Ants Van Ooyen, who used his bulk to carry four defenders over the line and put the Hawks back in the game.
With Greenbank coughing up an 18-0 lead, things started to get serious when on the stroke of halftime, the Hawks crossed for their third try.
Electrifying winger Freddy Gibuma’s step and fend pushed him into open space and he raced away to score beside the posts to see the Hawks trailing only 18-16 at the break.
With Greenbank’s 'bruise brothers' of Ropeti, Mateai and William Mateai continuing their punishment of the Hawks in the second half, the trio were responsible in forcing an error with a monster hit from 10m out.
From that Hawks mistake, Mateai Mateai scooped up the lost ball, with the behemoth prop using his sheer power to cross beside the sticks.
But the Hawks were not done yet, giving the Raiders a late scare as Doug Epi crossed for Logan City with a left minute on the clock.
However, the Raiders were able to hold on for the win in what was a brutal, yet entertaining game of rugby league.
They will head to Logan Metro Sports Complex
Rugby League Brisbane Community grand finals
at Emerson Park, Grange
10am: Under 19 Division 2 - Brighton Roosters v Samford Stags
12pm: Open Division 3 North - North Lakes Kangaroos v Burpengary Jets
2pm: Open Division 2 North - Brisbane Natives v Moreton Bay Raiders
4pm: Open Division 1 - West Arana Hills v Burpengary Jets
at Logan Metro Sports Complex
12pm: Under 19 Division 1 - Moreton Bay Raiders v Wynnum Manly Juniors
2pm: Division 3 South - Brothers St Brendan's v Greenbank Raiders
4pm: Division 2 South - Souths Sunnybank v Forest Lake
