Late penalty goal secures victorious end to Super W season for Harriet Elleman's Brumbies

Her hands started shaking. She hadn't kicked a goal for two years, and now she was being asked to slot a Super W match-winner three games into her ACT Brumbies career.

"Pearl [Rakete] pulled me aside and said 'I believe in you, we all believe in you. You've got this, you own it'. She gave me a little kiss on the forehead," Hetaraka said.

"That's what pushed me over, because as Mac was saying 'take the points', I was kind of backing up into a little bit of a hole. She definitely gave me the confidence to take that kick and be confident in my ability."

Sure enough, the Erindale College teenager's 79th-minute penalty gave the Brumbies a thrilling 10-8 win over the Melbourne Rebels to round out their campaign on Saturday.

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The Brumbies, featuring Bomaderry's Harriet Elleman, were on the verge of their third consecutive loss at C.ex Coffs International Stadium before Rebels captain Melanie Kawa was penalised at the breakdown, and the attention turned to Hetaraka in her first game at fly-half.

"I didn't really want to take it to be honest," Hetaraka said.

"I didn't back myself at all, only because I haven't kicked a goal in like two years. I was very nervous, my hands were very shaky lining that ball up with the black dot.

"It was an amazing feeling once I slotted it, knowing my whole team was around me."

The Rebels had a five-point advantage at half-time via Kelera Ratu.

Hetaraka struck back deep in the second half, ultimately scoring off her own grubber after Tess Staines managed to keep the ball alive.

It seemed their hearts would be broken when Rebels playmaker Georgia Cormick booted a 78th-minute penalty to give her side an 8-7 lead leading into the dying seconds.

But Dan Hawke's troops managed to force a turnover from the kick-off, and the rest is history.

"Our win was so crucial for us as a team, just to recognise how we've worked so hard for this," Hetaraka said.

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"We've come out and prepared so much for this tournament and we probably didn't want to go out on a loss and put in that hard work for nothing. To win this match was just amazing.

"Next year hopefully we come out better and stronger, and take it to the Tahs."

The NSW Waratahs were crowned champions for the fourth consecutive time, thrashing Queensland 45-12 in the final.

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