After Canberra fullback Gary Belcher pulled off a try-saving tackle on young Tigers centre Tim Brasher, the Raiders found their feet.
Balmain did extremely well to hold out a series of attacking plays that featured great work from Belcher, Bradley Clyde and Laurie Daley before a penalty for an inadvertent offside resulted in Mal Meninga booting a penalty goal from close to the posts.
Just as his opposite number Belcher had done earlier in the contest, Tigers fullback Garry Jack then saved a try with a brilliant low tackle on Canberra winger Matthew Wood.
Match Highlights: Tigers v Raiders
Paul Sironen then scored a great grand final try to give his side a 12-2 lead at the break. The champagne was on ice in Tiger Town but few could have predicted the drama that lay ahead.