'We'll do it our way': Raiders vow to bounce back after devastating loss

Raiders stars have vowed to bounce back from Sunday's drama charged 29-28 golden point finals loss to the Broncos and "take the long route" to premiership glory.

The minor premiers led 28-12 in the 65th minute but conceded three tries as the Broncos fought back to force the game to extra time before Ben Hunt sealed a dramatic win with a 94th minute field goal.

It was an epic finals clash that will go down in rugby league folk lore but one that left both sides were left bloodied, bruised and absolutely spent.

While Brisbane now have a week off the Raiders must regroup to face the Sharks on Saturday night, with the winner to meet the Storm in Melbourne for a place in the grand final.

After twice celebrating victory only for their hopes to be dashed by calls from the Bunker, the loss was pure devastation for the Raiders.

Ricky Stuart's side matched Brisbane blow-for-blow and appeared to have sealed the win multiple times. But the bounce of the ball and the mercurial Reece Walsh said otherwise.

“A couple of times you think you had it won and then it all changes,” Stuart said. “It was an unbelievable spectacle for rugby league. Certainly, a roller coaster.”

The Raiders experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but must now focus on beating the Sharks to avoid bowing out of the finals race with back-to-back losses.

“We have a strong resolve. We’ve just got to do it the hard way now,” Stuart said.

“We’re a good enough football team, and I’ve said a number of times; you need a little bit of luck, we were out of a little bit of lucky tonight, but we’ve got into a position in this competition this year with having some luck on our side.”

Canberra co-captain Joseph Tapine echoed Stuart's belief in the resilience of the squad.

“We’ve just got to go a different route to the grand final. It’ll be a good test for the group," Tapine said.

Raiders forward Hudson Young told ABC Sport: "We had them at 28-12, that should be good enough to win the game with 10 to go.

"It is what it is, we're back here next week, we'll do it our way … We'll get the job done."

For Brisbane, it was a display of resilience. Trailing 28-12, down to 11 men late in regulation time, and twice on the verge of defeat, the Broncos somehow found a way.

Thanks in part to the magic of Reece Walsh and steel of Pat Carrigan to claw their way back and snatch the win in the most dramatic of fashions.

“They believed to the end, and they worked hard for each other,” said a visibly proud Broncos coach Michael Maguire.

“There were plenty of times where it was probably nearly gone, but they found a way. It’s just that spirit of what the boys have been creating.”

The match had it all. Lead changes, sin bins, injuries, extra time and golden point, in a final sequence that will be replayed for years to come.

The Raiders looked destined to advance, capitalising on having an extra man on the field following the controversial sinbinning of Hudson Young, Reece Walsh and Pat Carrigan.

But the Broncos, even with just 11 on the park, defended like their season depended on it - because it did.

They refused to break, refused to quit, and delivered one of the most dramatic finals wins in recent memory.

“Obviously going to the sin bin is not ideal. But the conversations were pretty clear - ‘Let’s get back out and have a crack at this.’ The boys were out there fighting hard,” Carrigan said.

Walsh returned from the bin to orchestrate a stunning 17-minutes of rugby league to get the Broncos well and truly back into the game.

Entering extra time 28-all before setting the stage for a golden point shootout that saw both teams trade chances before Brisbane struck the decisive blow.

“There’s a lot of talk around Reecey, but he knows what he’s capable of,” said Maguire.

“The boys set up their moments for him to be able to do what he does. It was pretty special.”

The impact of Payne Haas, as always, was immense. Powering through the middle despite clearly carrying a knock.

“He’s good, he’s a machine. He is a big part of what we do, and we love having him out there.” Maguire smiled.

Brisbane now earn a week off and a home prelim. But they know the job is far from done.

“You’ve got to recognise what they just did, but also too, the job in front of us.” Maguire said.

As for the Raiders, they must regroup quickly ahead of a sudden-death clash against the Sharks.