Finals Week 3 Saturday wrap: James sends Dolphins to GF with golden point kick

Gutsy Pride second rower Ewan Moore crossed not long into the second half to lock the score up at 10-10; then Pride took the lead at 55 minutes through a Thomas Duffy penalty goal.

The fierce contest continued. James kicked the ball down field to put the Dolphins on the attack with less than 10 minutes to go and wrecking ball Josh Kerr crossed to put the Dolphins in front. 

Pride answered back straight away, with Partridge crossing in the opposite corner to level and Duffy missed the kick in windy conditions; the score was 16-16 with two minutes remaining and that's where it stayed, sending the game to golden point.

A cool, calm and collected James kicked an epic field goal, against the wind, to claim the win for the Dolphins over the minor premiers, sending his side to the grand final.

"Can't believe it," a stoked James said straight after the game.

Dolphins captain Max Bailey said "that was awesome... I can't believe it". 

"We've beat them once before so we knew we could do it but they haven't lost at home so it was a big task, but we stuck to our game plan and got the job done," Bailey said.

"Josh is unbelievable... I was the one playing the ball and I just had that feeling that he was going to hit it. Definitely a good feeling, watching that go over.

"Young Tommy Casey coming in, he is unbelievable, a little freak, and John boy (John Fineanganofo) in the centres was unbelievable in that last 10 minutes as well so we're really lucky to have young guys coming through that have been really stepping up all year. Really impressive for us."

Bailey said he was stoked to book a spot in the grand final.

"I knew we had the quality to do it, I knew we had the team to do it since day dot, but to be here now and have it confirmed, is really exciting," Bailey said.

"We just have to believe in ourselves and have confidence... Pride were the team to beat all year and we just did them at home, so whether it's Norths or PNG next weekend, we know it will be a tough game but we know we have the team to do it so we've just got to play the way we know we can and believe in ourselves.

The Dolphins did not finish the game unscathed, with Jarrett Boland and Fuller both leaving the field injured, "not looking too good at the moment" to be okay to play in the grand final.

Emotional Pride coach Eric Smith said "it gets to this time of year and it means someone progresses and someone's season is over". 

"We're the latter today... we knew it was going to be a tough game today... you don't get to prelims if you're not a good football team," Smith said.

"I think both teams showed a whole tonne of fight today, both teams had to come from behind to get themselves back in front... it was a tough game of footy and we were unfortunately on the wrong side of it.

"This team built it's season on fighting and there was still plenty in there today... even with a few minutes to go, to score that try to go to golden point... you could never doubt how much fight this group has but the opposition just had a bit more than us today and they deserved to get the win. They were a really good, tough opponent today."

Smith, departing the club, said it was still "too raw and hurting a bit too much now to look at how good the season has been, but I'm sure once the dust settles a bit, the players, coaching staff, the club and everyone will look back on the season very fondly, on what we've been able to achieve". 

"Players, individually, what they've been able to achieve as well... some guys playing some really good football, some guys moving on to bigger and better things because of the way they played this year," Smith said.

"Really proud coach to be part of that group of men that achieved so much this tear... still hurting that we didn't get into the big dance but there's still plenty of fond memories I'll take out of this season, that's for sure."

Tomorrow, Norths Devils and PNG Hunters will fight for the other spot in the grand final.

Catch all of the action live and free at Qplus.tv.

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