Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has revealed he is proud of his side as they line up for an elimination final in the Hunter next weekend.
The eighth-placed finish means they will travel to take on the red-hot Newcastle Knights next weekend.
The dramatic finish to the season came after the Raiders were at one point battling for the top four, and while the club will be left to wonder what might have been, both Stuart and captain Elliott Whitehead suggested the Raiders had outperformed expectations.
"I don't know if anyone knows we are in the finals. We weren't meant to be," Stuart said during his post-game press conference when asked if he was disappointed if his side had missed a home final.