The CSU Mungoes came from a 12-point deficit to post a 24-16 win over a full-of-heart Orange United Warriors and clinch their second Mid West title in three years on Saturday afternoon at Diggings Oval.

It was a grand final which will go down as one of the most epic in the history of the competition.

It had intercepts, one-on-one strips, massive defensive hits, brilliant cover defence, a 40-20 kick, a pressure sideline conversion, a pin-point perfect 30 metre cut-out pass which set up a try and two comebacks from CSU when they looked gone.

That CSU won the title after having to wait four weeks in between their major semi-final victory and Saturday's grand final made it even more special.

"That feeling when I knew it was ours, I couldn't explain it, it was just unbelievable," Flanagan said.

"I'm incredibly proud of my men, they just played amazing.

"To be honest I was nervous, but I never thought it was gone, I knew my boys would hold in. It's just amazing."

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The Warriors, who had fallen by 12 points to CSU in the major semi-final, applied the early pressure.

They not only did it through their big forward pack in attack, but forced CSU errors with their strong defence as well. While it was their first appearance in the Mid West grand final, it was clear the Warriors were ready for the occasion.

It was Warriors centre Tyrell Charters who scored the opener following an attacking scrum, an angled run seeing him slice through CSU's defence.

By half-time the lead had extended to 10-0, Ben French kicking a penalty goal and then - after a brutal Mick Newham tackle forced a CSU knock-on - fullback Kyran Ahsee scored on the left edge.

Another French penalty goal saw the Warriors with a 12-0 lead three minutes into the second half, but there was more drama to come.

CSU scored two tries in the space of five minutes to haul themselves back into the contest, the first coming off a brilliant 30-metre run from man-of-the-match Zac Hunt, the second via winger Lachie Balcombe. That made it 12-8.

From the kick-off Warriors had Jase Edwards sin-binned for a high tackle. It meant they headed into the final quarter a man short.

That final quarter began well for CSU as Brayden Wicks booted a 40-20 and a minute later fullback Mick Latu crossed to lock it up at 12-all.

Wicks added a penalty to give CSU a 14-12 lead with 10 left, but when French scored in the right corner for the Warriors with a tick over four minutes remaining it looked as if the Orange side was glory-bound. It was not to be the case.

CSU got the ball with 85 seconds on the clock, played out a good set, chased the kick hard and then found themselves with a penalty on the right sideline.

As Wicks lined up his kick the siren sounded. The pressure was intense, but he slotted the penalty to lock it at 16-all and force extra-time.

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That extra-time period - five minutes each way - belonged to CSU.

The Mungoes hit the front when - attempting to run the ball out from the in-goal following a CSU kick - the Warriors lost the ball and Blake Schaefer was there to pounce.

When Warriors knocked on from the kick-off in the second half of extra-time CSU punished the mistake with another try which sealed the win. It came as five-eighth Joe Coady floated a 30-metre cut-out pass on to the chest of Balcombe.

That made it 24-16 and made CSU's fifth consecutive trip to the grand final a victorious one.

"I kind of predicted it would be close, but didn't expect the extra-time," Flanagan said.

"Warriors, credit to them, they were the team that came out hard, were twice as good as they were in the major and they honestly played so well. They played with respect and dignity and they should be so proud of themselves.

"In my first year when we versed teams we had some big wins, but to go against teams like Oberon and now Warriors, to have that sort of competition, and to be able to win this comp, it's such a privilege and I'm very grateful."

For Warriors captain Kurt Beahan, it was a result which triggered mixed emotions. The close loss stung, but the pride he had in his men was strong.

"Look it's heartbreaking," he said as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"I'm just real proud of the boys. To lose like that, it hurts a lot. It came down to the last 15 seconds ... they kick a goal from the sideline to draw the game.

"Going into extra-time against these guys is always going to be a challenge, they're young, their medium age is probably 21 whereas ours is 30.

"But look, massive effort from everybody, we didn't have a bad player on the field. We had a few little disciplinary lapses that obvious cost us, we had a bloke sin-binned for 10 minutes and in a grand final, any final, that hurts.

"But full credit to CSU. From day one I said they were the top side in the comp and they deserved it."

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