An extraordinary ending to the first week of finals with an absolute classic played at GIO Stadium.
Minor premiers Canberra were looking to defend their fortress against the invaders from Brisbane in what promised to be mouth-watering qualifying final on Sunday afternoon.
After a seesawing battle that needed both periods of extra time to find a winner, the Broncos will march on to a preliminary final thanks to a Ben Hunt field goal in the 94th minute.
Hunt will get the accolades for finally ending the match with the successful kick, but it was star fullback Reece Walsh that dragged his side back into the game after they were trailing 28-12 mid-way through the second half.
The home side thought they had the game won twice - first at the end of regular time - only for the Broncos to be awarded a penalty for contact on the leg of a kicker, with Walsh slotting the penalty goal.
They thought they had it sealed up again in Golden Point when Jamal Fogarty ran over to score, only for the try to be called back for a knock on in the lead up when contesting the ball.
The Raiders will now have to regroup to square off against the Sharks in a sudden-death semi-final next weekend.
See how an absolute classic on a sunny Sunday in Canberra unfolded on ljmpta.com's live blog.
Raiders v Broncos at GIO Stadium
Match: Raiders v Broncos
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Raiders
1st Position
away Team
Broncos
4th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Post match reaction
Raiders
Raiders: Finals Week 1
Broncos
Broncos: Finals Week 1
Full-time stats recap: At the end of the game, the Broncos had 57 percent of the possession with an 80 percent completion rate (44/55) an improvement on halftime. The Raiders finished with a 74 percent completion rate (32/43). Raiders made 17 errors to 12.
94th min: Now we have a winner! Ben Hunt boots a field goal from 39 metres out to put the Broncos into a preliminary final with an extraordinary 29-28 win.
Ben Hunt!
93rd min: We have a winner!! Or do we?? Jamal Fogarty puts up a kick and it's batted by Jed Stuart into the hands of Zac Hosking who passes to the chasing halfback who runs under the posts and scores! But it's called a NO TRY!! Bunker says the ball goes forward and it's still locked at 28-28.
90th min - scores remain locked at 28-28 and we go to Golden Point. The game continues until there is a result.
89th min: Now it's Walsh with the field goal attempt, but it is charged down by Hudson Young and Canberra clean it up.
88th min: Fogarty misses another field goal attempt and it's a seven-tackle restart for the Broncos.
86th min: Shibasaki is pulled up for a forward pass which he flung out to his left, with Walsh streaking down the sideline.
Extra time - second five-minute period: Raiders team news. Seb Kris is off for a HIA. Owen Pattie is on for the first time all game. Canberra will kick off.
Extra time - first five-minute period summary: Raiders had the ball first and also were the ones to pull the trigger on a two-point field goal attempt from Jamal Fogarty which fell short.
80th min: Drama at the end of the game. Zac Hosking put on report for contact on the kicker Reece Walsh who was attempting a field goal. It's a penalty in front and Walsh kicks it and it's all locked up at 28-28 at fulltime. We go to Extra Time.
Walsh sends it to extra time
77th min: Can't keep Walsh out of the game and he attempts a two-point field goal ... but it hits the crossbar ... 28-26 to the Raiders still.
73rd min: Brisbane are on a roll and it's off the back of the return of Reece Walsh. He kicks another 40-20 to set them up and they go to the left again, this time Gehamat Shibasaki strolls over. Walsh kicks the conversion and it's 28-26 with plenty of time left on the clock.
70th min: Back-to-back tries for the Broncos and it's GAME ON. Josiah Karapani is over in the left from a Walsh pass. Brisbane have been putting on the pressure and got a line drop out to earn their chance to continue their attack. Walsh's conversion hits the post and bounces away and it's 28-20.
66th min: Back on the field and quickly back in the action, Walsh scores a try for the Broncos to show there is still plenty left in his game. The star fullback shows some footwork and speed and narrows the score. He can't convert his own try however and it remains 28-16.
Reece Walsh Try
56th min: It was inevitable. Ethan Strange is over for another Raiders try. Set up by a nice powerful run from Simi Sasagi, the Broncos are scrambling and can't hold back the surge from the Raiders. Fogarty misses this one, but it's still an imposing lead now of 30-12.
56th min: Another in the bin for the Broncos. Skipper Pat Carrigan tried to make a statement in defence and goes for a bit hit on Morgan Smithies, but misjudges it and goes high. Smithies - sans mouth guard - is bleeding from the mouth and sent for a HIA, with Carrigan penalised for the hit.
Carrigan sent to the sin bin
55th min: Blink and you'll miss it. Weekes streaaaks away 99 metres to score an against-the-run-of-play try. Broncos were on the attack, but a ball goes down and a quick-thinking and quick-footed Weekes scoops it up and runs clear. Commendable early chase from Payne Haas, who has been hampered by a lower leg complaint and Mariner, who came from the other side to try and reel him in to no avail. Fogarty converts for 24-12.
53rd min: A double sin binning with tensions boiling over. Hudson Young and Reece Walsh are both sitting out for 10 minutes after Young was deemed to have gotten in the face of Walsh who retaliates. Referee Ashley Klein said the players took the decision out of his hands with their actions. Broncos get the penalty.
Young and Walsh sin binned
41st min: Injury update - Big blow for the Broncos with Brendan Piakura off the field after suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone.
The half-time snapshot: At the break, the Raiders lead 18-12, despite having only 43 percent of the possession. They have a 68 percent completion rate (13/19) which coach Ricky Stuart will be wanting to see improve. Broncos are slightly better with 73 percent (17/23). Raiders have made eight errors to five, but only given up one penalty to five.
Halftime: A very eventful final few seconds with the Broncos unable to capitalise on back-to-back opportunities, with Hudson Young and Tom Starling holding up winger Josiah Karapani who seemed destined to score. The home side hit the sheds up 18-12.
39th min: An unsuccessful captain's challenge for the Broncos who were questioning if a Ben Hunt kick went out on the full.
34th min: The Raiders reclaim the lead, with Kaeo Weekes exploding over the line to dive over and score. A forgettable few moments for the Broncos who looked like scoring up the other end following a line-break from Billy Walters, but his pass to Brendan Piakura was not on, handing over possession. They they gave up a penalty and a six-again for the Raiders to surge back into a scoring position. Fogarty's boot is true once more and it's 18-12.
26th min: The pattern continues. Back-to-back set restarts, coupled with a penalty gives the Broncos plenty of ball and they are able to capitalise again, with Deine Mariner going over untouched on the right side off a sweeping Ben Hunt pass. Walsh converts and we are locked up again at 12-12.
Deine Mariner Try
22nd min: After scoring the first try, Young sets up the second for his side with an unexpected kick off his left boot picked up by Sebastian Kris to score. Fogarty slots the conversion and the home side are up 12-6.
Sebastian Kris Try
19th min: A let off for Canberra who were defending their line for multiple sets, with Reece Walsh penalised for obstruction after Cory Paix tried to use him as a shield to go over the line in his attempt to score. Scores remain 6-6.
12th min: Errors and penalties are being instantly pounced on in this game, with the Raiders hitting back on the scoreboard through Hudson Young after the Broncos gave up possession. Halfback Jamal Fogarty puts in a nice kick into the in-goal for his chasing secondrower to score. Fogarty converts and it's 6-6.
Hudson Young Try
6th min: All early running with the Broncos, with Walsh booting another 40-20 to give them a further advantage.
3rd min: On the back of two errors from the home side, the Broncos power their way over for the first try of the match with Kotoni Staggs proving too hard to stop close to the line. Reece Walsh converts and Brisbane are up 6-0 early.
Kotoni Staggs Try
Kick off: Raiders have the first use of the ball in a packed GIO Stadium, but give up an error early, with Tom Starling penalised in the play-the-ball.
There are plenty of match ups across the park to look forward to in this match and with the confirmation of Josh Papalii's inclusion in the game, the battle between him and Broncos enforcer Payne Haas will be key.
Late Mail:
Raiders: Veteran prop Josh Papalii will start the final, overcoming an ankle injury. Papalii was named to play on Tuesday despite suffering hiss injury at training a week ago. Big Papa remained in the squad all week, with Matty Nicholson the 18th man. Coach Ricky Stuart said that Nicholson would have come into the team if Papalii was unable to start. Earlier, centre Seb Kris is back on deck after missing the Round 26 win over Wests Tigers, so Simi Sasagi returns to the bench and Noah Martin makes way.
Broncos: Centre Gehamat Shibasaki has been recalled after he was stood down last week for breaching team standards so Deine Mariner goes to the wing and Jesse Arthars drops to 18th man. Back-rower Jack Gosiewski is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from a collarbone injury. Skipper Adam Reynolds (hamstring) remains sidelined. No changes on game day.
