The Rovers, pounded for most of the evening by a much bigger Trinity side, came so close to winning a very compelling match. Four points ahead with four minutes to go an Asa Amone tackle appeared to knock the ball loose and his pick up a subsequent run released Karl Pratt for what would have been the clinching try for the Rovers. The Rovers half of the McAlpine Stadium celebrated until it was realised that the touch judge had seen a knock-on. From the scrum, a Trinity side reprieved piled on the pressure and finally won the game.Wayne McDonald slipped the ball to Frances Stehenson who scored the equaling try. Garen Casey converted the try and Trinity had scraped home.

Trinity had set out to dominate Rovers physically from the start. Twice in the first 7 minutes of the game they went in on the right to give themselves an 8-0 lead with tries from Roy Southernwood and Josh Bostock. Garen Casey could not land the goals which meant that Rovers were still in with a shout. Then came a piece of good fortune for the Rovers on 15 minutes. Ty Fallins hoisted a kick on the last tackle which was allowed to bounce by the Trinity defence. Two kind bounces saw the ball land in the arms of Danny Baker and he went over for a converted try by Richard Chapman. Trinity, however, came back and on 25 minutes when Josh Bostock took a pass on the 5^th tackle power play to dive in at the corner. Again Garen Casey could not convert and Rovers went in at the break only 12-6 down.

Rovers came out refreshed and hit Trinity with two tries in four minutes. The first came on 45 minutes when some fine handling by Shaun Irwin and Richard Chapman produced a try for Chico Jackson which was converted by Richard Chapman. This was followed on 49 minutes when a Ty Fallins break set up another try this time for Steve Collins. He did well to pick up the low pass and went in under the posts. Richard Chapman converted and Rovers were ahead 18-12. However, Trinity came back on 58 minutes with Roger Kenworthy giving out a long pass which Garen Casey latched onto and went in for a converted try to make the score 18 all. Rovers then put Trinity under pressure and 12 minutes from time Carl Hall slid in at the corner after some superb handling from Rovers backs. However the drama of the last five minutes then unfolded and it was not to be Rovers night. The Rovers players sank to their knees in dismay. Many of the thousands of Rovers fans tried to console them. This had been an incredible game watched by many tens of thousands on Sky.

The man of the Grand Final was Richard Chapman who gave an excellent all-round display.

Rovers team: Steve Collins, Carl Hall, Shaun Irwin, Danny Baker, Karl Pratt, Jamie Coventry, Ty Falins, Chico Jackson, Richard Chapman, Stuart Dickens, Gary Price, Neil Lowe, Richard Slater, Asa Amone, Micky Clarkson, Paddy Handley, Steve Dooler