20-year-old Austin Durbidge has announced himself in the Super Rugby AUS Final as the NSW Waratahs claim the title with a 33-26 win.
The former Australia U18s star changed the game off the bench, including scoring the winning try after a first-half comeback.
Catch the replay of the Super Rugby AUS Final here
The flanker had two massive turnovers after coming on with 20 minutes to go before finding the line well after the siren for a remarkable win.
The visitors found themselves in trouble early as centre Jackson Ropata was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
This provided standout playmaker Max Burey all the space to strike, unleashing late addition Justin Landman to find George Poolman for the opener.
Henry Robertson then set up Kurltey Beale, who sliced through the gap and drew the fullback for a 14-0 lead.
Back to full strength, the Waratahs’ young core launched a comeback, with breakout star James Hendren the leading man.
The fullback broke clear in the 22nd minute and put his winger Leo Jacques in for his first try of the competition.
Sid Harvey capitalised on a dropped pass from Landman, and when Jacques and Hendren combined again, this time for scrumhalf Michael McDonald, the Waratahs had a 19-14 lead heading into half-time.
Half-time came at the perfect time for the hosts, who leaned on their forward pack to get back in the game.
Young second-rower Mitch Watts crossed to start the second half, with Vaiolini Ekuasi giving them the lead.
The pressure of the final started to weigh on both teams as mistakes began to creep into the game.
Burey looked to control the lead for the hosts, putting a pinpoint kick in-behind to earn a five-metre scrum, which the Waratahs repelled.
It took the Easts combination of Harvey and Teddy Wilson to break open the Force, setting up right before the line for Haloholo to level the scores with six to go.
The Waratahs hunted for the winning try and the back-rower went close, only to be held up over the line with a minute to go.
In the end, it was fitting Durbidge was the man to strike, having created the turnover with five minutes to go.
It caps off a great day for the Waratahs, which started with the U19s title after another close win over the ACT Brumbies.
NSW Waratahs 33 (Tries: Halaholo, McDonald, Harvey, Jacques, Durbidge; Cons: Harvey 4) def Western Force 26 (Tries: Beale, Poolman, Watts, Ekuasi; Cons: Donaldson 3)
