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Canberra's youth brigade has been dealt a heartbreaking introduction to finals footy, after crumbling late to a Reece Walsh-led Brisbane comeback in one of the most eventful games of NRL football ever played.
Seven of the Raiders 17 were playing in their first final against a Broncos side brimming with talent and post-season experience on Sunday.
The inexperienced Raiders, led by a double from 23-year-old fullback Kaeo Weekes and a try to 21-year-old five-eighth Ethan Strange, were electric as they ran out to a 16-point lead in the second half.
Brisbane will sweat on the charge sheet for lock Pat Carrigan and star fullback Walsh after both were both sin-binned before storming home to beat Canberra 29-28.
Carrigan was sin-binned in the 56th minute and put on report in the national capital for a dangerous tackle on Morgan Smithies that led to the Raiders forward leaving the field with a category-two HIA, which he later passed.
That blow came three minutes after Walsh led with his head to knock over Raiders hard man Hudson Young, who had antagonised him seconds earlier. Both were binned.
He returned to flip the game on its head with a try, a try assist for winger Josiah Karapani, a crucial 40/20 and an 80th minute penalty goal to take the match to extra time and then golden point, where Ben Hunt did the rest with a stunning field goal.
'I was disappointed in myself. I am glad the chocolates went my way,' Walsh told Fox League post-match when asked about his sin-binning.
Walsh (pictured) returned from the sin bin to flip the game on its head
A heartbroken Canberra side will have to regroup after a shattering introduction to final's footy
Walsh's actions against Young will be reviewed by the MRC but there was debate over whether he even connected.
He has certainly connected with his best football. Walsh set up the first try for Kotoni Staggs and from that point owned the game and the moments that counted.
The Raiders thought they had done enough to secure a home preliminary final numerous times.
Walsh's two-point field goal attempt on the final siren was charged down, only for the video referee to rule Zac Hosking had made contact with the fullback's trailing leg, giving the Broncos a penalty 10 metres out.
Canberra then thought they had the result wrapped up after 10 minutes of extra time and two minutes of golden point.
Coach Ricky Stuart's rookie son Jed leaped high to bat back a Jamal Fogarty bomb, with Fogarty eventually crossing the tryline to send a sold-out GIO Stadium into raptures.
But the bunker once again intervened to deny Canberra's joy, ruling the touch went forward off Stuart's hand.
The ground went from elation to despair a minute later when veteran Ben Hunt squeezed a drop-kick off the inside of the right upright to clinch an incredible result for the Broncos.
Walsh was sent to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein after he led with his head to knock over Raiders hard man Hudson Young
The Broncos will host a preliminary final against either Canterbury or Penrith in a fortnight
Recovering from this finals week one loss will be a tough ask for the Raiders, despite being the league's stand-out side this season.
In the past 18 years, only two top four teams that have lost in week one have gone on to win the premiership: North Queensland in 2015 and Penrith in 2021.
'It's a pretty heartbreaking feeling,' a dejected Strange told broadcaster Channel Nine after the game.
The Raiders will have less than a week to recover from the emotional turmoil and prepare for a do-or-die semi-final against Cronulla.
The Broncos will host a preliminary final against either Canterbury or Penrith in a fortnight and will hope both of their guns are on board.
Captain Adam Reynolds is the big one. His hamstring injury has taken time to heal, with one minor setback already, and he will play as soon as given clearance.
Star playmaker Ezra Mam and exciting outside back Selwyn Cobbo, both nursing hamstring strains, are also edging closer to a return, likewise prop Xavier Willison (broken arm).
