Shattered South Sydney players slumped to the turf after losing what commentators were labelling ''one of best finals games ever seen''.
A wobbly Cameron Munster field goal proved the difference as the Melbourne Storm triumphed 29-28.
The premiers did a remarkable job considering they were dudded by two referees' calls in the second half, including one that prompted skipper Cameron Smith to bark ''that's an absolute howler in a big game''.
Making a point: Cameron Munster reacts after sealing victory for the Storm with a field goal.
But the Storm are now just 80 minutes away from getting the chance to defend their title.
Souths will get their own second crack next weekend, but will need to pick themselves up mentally and physically.
"I think they punished us for every error or penalty we gave, they put us under pressure with it,'' Souths coach Anthony Seibold said.
"I think in some ways we also did it to them, we scored five tries, and made more metres than them. I just thought there were a couple of key moments, one right on half-time and one towards the back end of the game. We'll learn from that.
Impossible to replace: Adam Reynolds receives attention on a night of big hits.
"We don't have to turn it around, we know what we need to do: we need to build pressure with efforts, that's our game model, it's served us well all year.
"At the end of the day, normally when you score 28 points you expect to win a game of footy and we didn't, that's why we're disappointed and we know we need to be better.''
There was no shortage of brutal hits all night. The completion rates were almost perfect in the second half.
Greg Inglis winced in pain when he was caught in a chicken-wing tackle early in the game, then was poleaxed by Suliasi Vunivalu as he tried to pass the ball.
Inglis, however, did his best AFL player impersonation when he somehow plucked an Adam Reynolds bomb from the skies and then steamrolled good mate Billy Slater for a try midway through the second half to get Souths back in the game.
Reynolds was also in a world of hurt with a shoulder injury, which forced him from the field in the final minute of the first half. He suffered a knock to his AC joint. He's hoping he will be right for next week. The little halfback was smashed by Felise Kaufusi, then Christian Welch, not to mention tackled in the air by Josh Addo-Carr.
Yet he returned for the second half and produced some wonderful bombs that troubled the Storm back three. One particular kick was taken by Addo-Carr before his pass to Slater was ruled forward. Smith was furious.
Topsy-turvy contest: Cheyse Blair celebrates the try that levelled the scores late in the match.
Souths scored from the next set to take the lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Another Souths try in the second half, to winger Rob Jennings, also came after Curtis Scott was wrongfully pinged for having a second attempt to drag Cody Walker into touch.
Thankfully the result was not about Ashley Klein's contentious calls.
Dynamic: Suliasi Vunivalu crosses for the Storm at AAMI Park.
Munster's kick was ugly but got the job done. He signed his first NRL contract in a Rockhampton Coffee Club while Anthony Seibold sat opposite him.
Seibold sat in the South Sydney coach's box and would have cringed at seeing the five-eighth slot the winner.
Souths will take plenty out of the game, but they will be nursing a decent hangover.
Sam Burgess inked a lifetime deal during the week but had a mixed night.
While he smashed a few Storm players all night and ran for 175 metres, he also coughed up the ball when belted himself by Felise Kaufusi. Then he missed a crucial tackle on Brodie Croft, who raced downfield and then dropped the ball on to his boot for Vunivalu to score a first-half double.
Headings south: Campbell Graham is upended against the Storm.
Vunivalu had a brain-fade himself when he appealed to the touch judge that Jennings had been tackled, only for play to go on and Inglis to score right next to him. It was embarrassing but ultimately not costly.
All eyes will be on Reynolds and his shoulder. Angus Crichton also sent a scare through the camp when he needed a brief spell to have treatment for a neck injury.
George Burgess was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
A late Smith tackle on Damien Cook was not appreciated by the next Kangaroos No. 9, and his look at the Storm skipper was priceless.
Souths will now meet the winner of the Brisbane-St George Illawarra match. There is a lot to like about their performance. They have too many big-game stars. They were minutes away from victory.
The 17,306 Storm supporters will be in full voice in a fortnight. Another hit-out like Friday night's would not disappoint come the first weekend of October.
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