Stirring finish steels ACT Brumbies brotherhood in Super Rugby AU final

Three Wallabies, a rugby league international and a sprinkling of rugby union's brightest young talents were tasked with bringing the Super Rugby AU title to the ACT.

They would help McKellar do just that as the Brumbies secured the championship with a stirring 28-23 win over the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

Even so, the final few minutes would have felt like the longest of his coaching career - perhaps the longest of his life - when the visitors mounted raid after raid on the Brumbies' line.

But this is a side that so often speaks about wanting to do it for each other, about not letting their mates down, about winning when their backs are against the wall.

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So trust they did just that to force turnovers at crucial moments, to come up with try-saving tackles like White on Taniela Tupou in full flight.

"It took an 80 minute effort out there and we knew it was going to be tough. That's the best feeling about it, everyone dug deep," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said.

"With 10 minutes to go our backs were against the wall, but we did well to close out the game. That's a testament to the reserves for coming on and adding an impact, and the culture we have down here and everyone just ripping in and making sure they do a job right up to the last whistle.

"It's really special. It's a credit to the Reds side as well for coming out here and putting on an 80-minute performance. It's something we knew was going to happen."

Perhaps the mental blow was the hardest to overcome for the visitors at the 50-minute mark. On the back foot with Filipo Daugunu sent for 10, they looked up to see Nic White, James Slipper and Rob Valetini trotting onto the park.

They added the finishing touches the Brumbies sorely needed when the Reds came charging back into the contest.

Yet the result potentially wouldn't have gone in the home side's favour if not for young gun Noah Lolesio, who claimed man of the match honours as the Brumbies surged to a drought-breaking title on their home turf.

The Brumbies brushed aside questions about whether having a week off could be a bad thing in a fast start and a classy finish. The Reds seemed a side that had been through perhaps one too many gritty battles in a season like no other.

AT A GLANCE

Super Rugby AU grand final: ACT BRUMBIES 28 (Folau Fainga'a, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks tries; Noah Lolesio 2 conversions; Lolesio 2 penalties; Lolesio field goal) bt QUEENSLAND REDS 23 (Harry Wilson, Angus Blyth tries; James O'Connor 2 conversions; O'Connor 3 penalties) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Angus Gardner.