The Canberra Raiders are heading to the NRL Grand Final for the first time in 25 years after a 16-10 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Canberra were a man down a man for the final 10 minutes after Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 70th minute.
But the Raiders rallied before Josh Papalii burst through to score the match-winning try in front of a record 26,567 crowd at GIO Stadium.
Coach Ricky Stuart has taken Canberra to their first Grand Final since helping the Green Machine to their last premiership as a player in 1994.
The Raiders' season has been defined by defence and, for their biggest home crowd in club history, they again stood firm.
Three times in the first half, the Rabbitohs looked certain to score and were denied as the Canberra wall couldn't be penetrated.
Souths crossed first through Alex Johnston, but the pass from Campbell Graham was ruled to have come off the ground while he was being tackled and the try was disallowed.
Canberra co-captain Josh Hodgson orchestrated the opening try from start to finish.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said they were prepared for one-on-one strips, but they couldn't stop Hodgson pick-pocketing Ethan Lowe in the 13th minute.
A few plays later, Hodgson grubbered through and, when Corey Allan tried to escape the in-goal, Hodgson made the tackle which forced the ball free, and Jarrod Croker pounced to score.
Croker converted but, five minutes later, he lined up a penalty almost in front and 30 metres out but hooked it wide to keep the score 6-0.
Souths earned an attacking scrum in the 26th minute, and Dylan Walker burst through, looking certain to score, only to get stripped on the line by Hodgson.
But the Rabbitohs wouldn't be denied from their next scrum set piece when the ball moved through the hands before Dane Gagai cut through to score in the corner.
Reynolds slotted the sideline conversion to lock up the scores in the 30th minute.
Souths were gifted the ball back just minutes later. Damien Cook darted out of dummy-half and found Teita Tatola who looked to have scored between the posts but was ruled short.
The half ended with the crowd in raptures as Jack Wighton raced 50m downfield but was pulled down by Gagai.
But the Raiders' faithful didn't have to wait long in the second half to get back on their feet for Wighton after the five-eighth scored a brilliant individual try.
Souths fullback Adam Doueihi couldn't take a bomb, and Wighton scooped up the loose ball before dropping it onto his foot and scoring in the corner.
Croker's sideline conversion hit the upright in the 45th minute.
Papalii was put on report for contact with his shoulder to the head of Doueihi in the 50th minute but will be confident of playing in the decider.
Souths threw everything at Canberra, having all the ball in the second half, but the defence was equal to the challenge.
The Raiders finally managed to get some ball and were on the attack in when Reynolds intercepted and ran 60 metres before Nicoll-Klokstad chased him down, but was binned for holding on too long.
Doueihi knocked on in the 74th minute before Papalii powered his way over from 10 metres out to send the crowd wild.
Graham scored a consolation try in the final minute.
The Raiders will face Melbourne or the Sydney Roosters in the Grand Final.
Join us on October 6 for live updates of the NRL Grand Final.
AAP
