No one would have expected it a month ago- but Tamworth City stand on the brink of a minor football miracle. All that stands between them and a chance at a Premier League berth are the minor premiers. Can the young Titans create a dynasty of their own? Or are the Bulls too firmly entrenched as a dominant side?

Brisbane Bulls Tamworth City Titans
1 Nathan Merrit 1 Justin McKay
2 John Hopoate 2 Justin Ryder ©
3 Shannon Hegarty 3 Brian O'Discroll
4 Willie Talau 4 Mtombe Msabo
5 Fifita Moala 5 Kurt Gidley
6 Preston Campbell © 6 Casey Macguire
7 Paul Green 7 Byron Kelleher
8 Tomas Larsson 8 Joel Clinton
9 Kandy Tamer 9 Shayne Dunley
10 Sean Ryan 10 Tony Tatupu
11 Phil Waugh 11 Justin Harrison
12 Brad Thorne 12 Adam Peek
13 Scott Prince 13 Toutai Kefu
++Interchange
14 David Westley 14 Steve Carew
15 Adam Mogg 15 Keiran Kerr
16 Willie Poching 16 John Wilson
17 Octavio Bartolucci 17 Trent Wright

The game got underway in the best of spirits, and Tamworth City showed they knew full well they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. An early penalty gave them field position, and Brian O'Driscroll very nearly sliced through the Bulls' line for an early try. Only the despairing tackle of replacement lock, Scott Prince, averted a horror start for the favourites.

The opportunity for first points didn't come until the eighth minute, Justin Ryder opting for a shot at goal after Brad Thorne had been caught offside. The big Kiwi objected, which had the mark advanced, but the Titans' captain was unable to land the routine penalty- and things remained at 0 all. If you ask kids 'Who is Kandy Tamer?', no one knows- but the little Lebanese halfback/hooker made his presence known in the 13th minute. Whilst his incisive run didn't produce points- it was Brisbane's first real offensive charge of the match, and showed Tamworth they weren't infallible by a long shot.

The first points of the match finally came in the 19th minute, Preston Campbell calmly landing a penalty after Trent Wright was put on report for lifting Scott Prince above the horizontal. The Bulls seemed to take a lot out of their 2-0 lead, especially when you considered Tamworth's abundance of possession early on. Tamer and retiring halfback, Paul Green, reeked havoc in Tamworth City's line- but couldn't put the ball where it needed to go to break the line. Tamworth City showed the intensity of a side desperate to prove themselves- with Francis Cummins and Joel Clinton in particular defending well.

Ironically, it was TCT who posted the game's first try, and it didn't come until the 38th minute. A mediocre set of six in offense, including some stupid passes, saw Brisbane penned inside their twenty after six. Worse, Green slipped over when he went to kick the ball, and Tamworth City were right on the attack. The Bulls struggled in vein to set their line, and Mtombe Msabo cruised in out wide after Hopoate was caught off guard. Ryder was this time able to convert, and the Titans went up 6-2 with barely a minute of the first half remaining.

HALFTIME: Brisbane 2 trail Tamworth City 6

Tamworth City started the second half with heaps of enthusiasm, Justin McKay making a bust on the first touch- and a dangerous set only being diffused by a matter of inches after a Gidley grubber rolled dead in goal. The intense start did not bode well for Brisbane, and they'd need to lift if they didn't want to get swept away like Port Moresby did last week.

It was the likes of Talau, Thorne, and Waugh who bashed Brisbane back into contention. A particularly brutal defensive set trapped Tamworth in their own end- and whilst Gidley was able to kick- it went out on the full to give Brisbane a great chance. Willie Talau didn't disappoint, menacing his way over the top of McKay to score a fairly soft try. Preston Campbell proved up to the challenge, converting the try to give Brisbane the lead again at 8-6.

In the 46th, Ryder had things level, although the Titans could feel hard done by that Merrit wasn't sent off after the plucky fullback had deliberately tackled McKay off the ball and was not sent off. Ryder's thirty metre penalty was good however, and the ledgers were level again. The pressure of a big game proved Tamworth's undoing- and the nerves that punters had expected all finals' series finally caught them. Although the likes of Wright and McKay made busts, seemingly at will, the Titans just made funademental errors. Whether it was Ryder ignoring two support players or Wilson losing it cold- Tamworth lacked the killer instinct they'd need to put Brisbane to bed.

Kandy Tamer's brilliant game was rewarded when he scored in the 60th, the little Cedar burrowing over despite the attention of Trent Wright. Surprisingly, Campbell missed his easiest kick of the night, and the score stayed at 12-8. Ryder's second penalty of the night only minutes later dragged back the defecit again. 12-10 with eighteen minutes remaining. But Brisbane seemed to have found their groove whilst Tamworth were clearly lost.

Preston Campbell's 64th minute penalty was a mark of respect for Tamworth City's scrambling defence, but the 14-10 scoreline didn't last long, Brisbane scoring off the kick-off. Kandy Tamer stepped off his left and into clear pastures. Despite the chase of Gidley, the little halfback was able to put it under the sticks for what was surely the match-winner. Campbell converted it non-chalantly, and at 20-10, the Bulls looked comfortable.

To their credit, Tamworth City didn't give up, and fought valiantly despite the odds being stacked again. Like a true champion side, Brisbane held their line grimly, and the fulltime siren went at 20-10. Brisbane would move into the Grand Final to emulate CCF's feats- and Tamworth City would go back to Tamworth to a heroes welcome.

FULLTIME
Brisbane 20
Kandy Tamer 2
Willie Talau
Campbell 4/5
def.
Tamworth City 10
Mtombe Msabo
Ryder 3/5

PoM Points
Kandy Tamer 3
Scott Prince 2
Preston Campbell 1

But we all know that Brisbane is no Central Coast Falcons. They try to immitate us... win the Risk over Wellington, dominate the division, wind up Minor Premier and now make it to the Grand Final.

Weither or not Brisbane win the Grand Final over their 'mystery' opponent, they will never be the Falcons. We are a team with pride and a winning spirit... and even still Brisbane will have to try to immitate our glorious Premier League debut, and try to make 10 wins straight.

Magro Brisbane have already been in Premier League before the Falcons.