The Queensland Firebirds have been crowned champions of trans-Tasman netball after beating the New South Wales Swifts 57-56 in the final.
The Firebirds were uncharacteristically erratic, spending almost the entire match trailing the Swifts - but they took the lead for the first time with 15 seconds to go, when Gretel Tippett scored the decisive goal.
The Queensland Firebirds, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tippett's goal triggered an almighty roar from the sellout 7000-strong crowd as the Firebirds held on for victory at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, sealing their first title since 2011 with their 13th consecutive win.
Firebirds captain Laura Geitz said the final whistle came as "so much relief", with her side just mere moments away from a third successive grand final failure.
The Firebirds' league MVP Romelda Aiken was at her prolific best, scoring 47 out of 51 attempts, and while her partner Tippett (10/17) was comparatively shaky, she came good when it counted.
Injury-dogged NSW captain Kimberlee Green played a full game, while grand final MVP Sharni Layton and Julie Corletto barely gave Queensland an inch in defence.
"We're pretty devastated," Green said.
"It's a tough pill to swallow because we were right in the match the whole game."
The result continues NSW's poor record in Queensland, with the franchise yet to win a game in Brisbane.