The Griffith University Dragons have won a historic fourth consecutive University Rugby League Queensland grand final title, courtesy of their nail-biting 28-24 upset victory over the University of Queensland Hounds at Langlands Parks on Sunday.

The Hounds started the match as overwhelming favourites thanks to an undefeated run all season, but were ambushed by a committed and creative Dragons outfit in the title decider.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the talented Hounds after leading for the majority of the match, with the Dragons fighting back from an 18-12 half-time deficit to level at 24-all heading into a tense final five minutes.

With the match on the line heading into the dying stages, the Hounds controlled play to work their way into position to take a shot at field goal, and it seemed only an act of luck or brilliance could deny the Hounds their first title since 2004.

And the Dragons Luke Schoem provided both with a moment of freakish skill; the talented hooker charging down the Hounds field goal shot and regaining the loose ball with fingertip control inches off the ground, before racing eighty metres to score a miraculous try and hand the Dragons the 2008 premiership.

It was a heartbreaking way in which to end a dominant season for the UQ Hounds, with the minor premiers’ strong defence allowing them to open the scoring through hooker Sean Reid inside the opening ten minutes.

However, Griffith were able to hit straight back thanks to a handful of errors from the Hounds inside their own half, before UQ raced out to a handy 18-6 lead courtesy of back-to-back tries in the closing stages of the first half.

But the combination of Brisbane’s heat and Hounds injuries allowed the Dragons to get back into the match, with Griffith again capitalising on a Hounds mistake to go into the main break trailing 18-12.

The momentum was with the Dragons straight after the break, posting a further two quick tries to take a shock 20-18 lead, before the steely resolve of the Hounds allowed them to snatch back the ascendancy and lead 24-20.

But the Dragons ensured an epic finish when they drew level inside the closing stages, with Schoem’s moment of brilliance completing a miraculous, upset victory for the Dragons.

It was an unlucky and demoralising way in which to complete a dominant season by the UQ Hounds, with captain Tom Lawler graciously accepting the URLQ Player of the Year award at the post-game function.

Griffith University Dragons 28 (Jonathan Fraser 2, Tim Al Sam, Rob Mellor, Alan Kemp, Luke Schoem tries; Luke Schoem 2 goals)

Defeated

University of Queensland Hounds 24 (Clinton Reid, Callum Page, Trevor McLeary, Sean Reid tries; Tom Lawler 4 goals)