Canberra secured a ticket to the NRL finals while Brisbane's amazing September record finally ended in front of a huge home crowd last night.
The Raiders registered their sixth straight victory with a tense 18-16 win against a Broncos side who will miss the finals for the first time since
1991.
In the night's other NRL match, the result was almost as close, with the Gold Coast Titans pipping the Tigers 21-18 to ensure a home final.
In Brisbane, Canberra had to withstand a barnstorming Broncos finish as late tries to winger Jharal Yow Yeh and utility Matt Gillett brought the 38,872 crowd alive.
The home side almost pulled off a miracle but a desperate David Campese knocked down an attempted off-load by Brisbane prop Scott Anderson to Sam Thaiday a few minutes from fulltime as Canberra clung to an 18-16 lead.
Brisbane blew three or four tries in the first half, twice when kicks for support players were way too heavy.
Canberra's massive forward wall of Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, David Shillington, Scott Logan and Dane Tilse kept punching up the middle and Josh Dugan and Campese were outstanding behind their bruising pack.
The Broncos' loss was Israel Folau's 91st and last game of league, at least for the next four years, with the youngster headed to the AFL.
He ended his time with Brisbane with 37 tries in 38 games.
On the Gold Coast, a damaged shoulder could not stop playmaker Scott Prince carrying the Titans to victory over Wests Tigers.
Alarm bells were ringing after Prince left the field midway through the first half following a heavy tackle - especially after he was heard telling trainer Trevor Gillmeister: "I think I have broken my collarbone."
He returned in the second half and sprang to life in the 58th minute, sprinting down the blind side to send a brilliant cut-out pass for flying winger Kevin Gordon to score what became the matchwinner.
Prince then thumped over the conversion from the sideline.
On a night farewelling retiring dual international Mat Rogers, the Titans also looked to have said goodbye to a home final after watching a 13-0 halftime lead evaporate.
Already guaranteed a home final, the Tigers came out swinging in the second half, cutting the deficit to just 13-12 by the 47th minute.
Prince's heroics made it 19-12 but the Titans still had to weather a barnstorming finish by the visitors.
It was a gutsy effort by a Tigers team ravaged by injury.
- AAP
The Raiders have beaten the Broncos to make it to the finals. Photo / Getty Images
Canberra secured a ticket to the NRL finals while Brisbane's amazing September record finally ended in front of a huge home crowd last night.
The Raiders registered their sixth straight victory with a tense 18-16 win against a Broncos side who will miss the finals for the first time since
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