An unconverted Max Edwards try in the shadows of full-time ultimately proved the match-winner for the defending premiers after Molong fought back from a 14-point deficit at half-time to lock the clash up at 17-all with 15 minutes to go.

The Goats gifted Molong the opportunity to fight their way back into the game by giving away nine penalties to the Magpies' two in the second half, that ill-discipline eventually leading to Colt Tairua's sin-binning in the 55^th minute too.

Molong took full advantage of their extra man and scored twice in that 10-minute period to draw level with the Goats and even after Edwards' runaway try put them ahead by five, Geurie didn't make it easy for themselves at the Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground.

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They dropped the restart cold and gave away a couple of penalties in the last five minutes too but they were stoic enough in defence to make sure it didn't cost them a grand final berth, holding Molong out to seal the five-point win.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous after they came back at us and we gave away a few (late) penalties too," Geurie skipper Josh Sinisa admitted.

"But we've got experience and I think we've learned how to perform under that kind of pressure this year, it was a big effort in defence in the second half and it's great to get the win.

"Molong had beaten us twice this season, so we knew it was going to be really tough and it was."

Molong skipper Josh Peffer said he took plenty of solace from knowing his troops "were never going to die wondering", but admitted his side probably left themselves too much work to do in the second half after falling 17-3 behind.

That deficit came from their comedy of errors in the opening 40 minutes.

With Geurie giving away nine penalties to Molong's five in the opening half - at one stage the penalty count was 8-1 - the Magpies had plenty of opportunities but outside a second-minute penalty goal they couldn't turn them into points, constantly coughing up possession.

Geurie were good enough to take advantage, with Moa Kavaefiafi and Filisione Pauta both scoring in the opening half, with Adam Norton slotting both conversions and kicking a penalty goal too.

WATCH: Geurie five-eighth Filisione Pauta burrows his way over in the first half...

"We did get it together in the second half and it was good to see the fight, but we shot ourselves in the foot in that first half and probably left it a little too late," Peffer lamented.

"We did the same thing [in last week's loss to] Wellington. I'm honestly not entirely sure what it was we just couldn't hang onto it in the first half, maybe we were nervous, maybe we were guilty of trying a little bit too hard."

Peffer did make a point of praising the Goats and their "big-game players' though, although he wouldn't go as far as tipping them to topple the minor premiership-winning Wellington side in next week's decider though.

"I said last year I thought Wellington would get over Geurie and they didn't come close, so I didn't think I want to tip anyone," Peffer laughed.

"That's a tough one, I'm really not sure. Geurie will give them a shake and you have to give them credit, they did enough to come away with the win [on Saturday]. They've got some big game players in their side and who imposed themselves at the right time, like Moa (Kavaefiafi) and Fili (Pauta), especially Fili.

"He's playing five-eighth but in the last five or 10 minutes when we were attacking their line who was it that popped up and got a couple of really crucial turnovers, it was Fili.

"It's tough to lose at this stage again after doing it last year too, it's disappointing, we can't seem to take the next step but it is what it is. All we can do now is wish Geurie and Wellington good luck next week"