19-year-old hooker Tyler Fleming swivelled his way over from dummy half to score a golden-point try after 7mins and 38secs of extra time.

It is a try the trainee gardener will remember for many years.

“I couldn’t believe it. My hair stood up – it was a great feeling,” the hard-working hooker said after the game.

His teammates and coach were just as electrified following a preliminary final where both sides hammered each other into the Kitchener Park turf.

The Bulldogs had led 16-12 at halftime but it was Narrabri who struck first in the second half to lead 24-16 after brilliant tries to Justin Knight and Brandon Tago.

Just when the Blues looked like they might go on with it, Gunnedah struck back, with prop Andrew Seach charging over. 

His initial surge was stopped but he was able to swing around and out of a tackle and plant the ball over the line to signal his side’s return.

Then five eighth DJ Smith made a jinking break and run, offloading to fullback Aaron Donnelly who dropped the ball but was able to kick it before it touched the ground and then chase it down to score in the corner.

Seven minutes from fulltime,  Smith dived over to make it 30-24 before the game changed again when  Tago rushed through the Bulldog defence after a pass from fellow prop Jake Rumsby to score a splendid try.

With two minutes left on the clock the Bulldogs kicked off, young Blues hooker Jake Nichols made his only mistake of a great game and the Bulldogs looked like they might steal the game but wasted the opportunity.

That sent the game into extra time.

The first five minutes were uneventful however the second period yielded Gunnedah a second chance when Robbie Briggs and Steven Yorkshire bundled Narrabri fullback Jason Wallace into touch on halfway.

Everyone thought the Bulldogs were building for a field goal after a great charge from inspirational captain Jordy Ford but it was teenager Fleming who sent his side to a grand final when he plunged over from dummy half.

“That was a fantastic game,” Gunnedah coach Shane Rampling said.

“It’s a shame there had to be a loser. 

“Narrabri really stepped up today and tested us.

‘They had me worried a few times and, down 24-16, we really dug deep. 

“They showed they really wanted to get to that grand final.

“When Tyler scored that winning try it was a great felling.”

Rampling thought his skipper, Jordy Ford, had a massive game.

“Jie Smith was great too and  Andrew Cameron, Tyler and Trent (Hilton).

“But everyone stepped up today and had a dig.”

Narrabri coach John Rumsby wasn’t disappointed with his side.

“It was a tough game,” he said.

“We were right in it –  a lot better than we played against West (minor semi)

“And we went a lot better against Gunnedah than we had the last couple of times.

“We showed so much ticker today.

“We’ve been the walking wounded all year and hadn’t been within 25 points of Gunnedah until today.”

Big prop  Tago embodied that walking wounded after he had a head clash with  Ford midway through the second half.

He returned with nine minutes left, his head swathed in a big bandage, and almost spurred the side to victory with one try and some big jolting runs.

Brendan Davey was outstanding for the Blues, with Jake Rumsby and energetic hooker Nichols.

Captain Lachlan Cameron started at lock and finished at fullback with another solid effort while Justin Knight was dangerous throughout, scoring two tries, one a little grubber reminiscent of his famous father Billy Knight and a one-on-one steal at a vital stage.

“Like a thief in the night, just like his dad,” former Bulldog winger Les Baker said after watching one of the best games of the season.