It was the Green Machine's first grand final since 1994 and they almost celebrated the 30th anniversary of their inaugural premiership with another one before a roaring crowd of 82,922.

But it wasn't to be for Ricky Stuart's brigade as the Roosters prevailed 14-8 to claim back to back premierships.

Ultimately, it wouldn't be a NRL grand final without an Upper Hunter connection.

In the same season where former Canberra teammates Adam Clydsdale (Scone) and Frank Paul Nu'uausala (Singleton), who also featured in the Roosters' 2013 premiership, locked heads in the Group 21 competition; a former Greta Branxton Colt, Hudson Young, would be making national headlines in the NRL.

However he would fail to make an on field appearance on Sunday.

The 21-year-old was instead serving an eight week suspension after he was found guilty at the NRL judiciary for an alleged eye gouge of Warriors player Adam Pompey in Round 25.

Young looked the three-man judiciary panel of Dallas Johnson, Mal Cochrane and Tony Puletua in the eye and claimed he had done nothing wrong. He spoke well and never once wavered when cross-examined.

"I just want to thank the panel for a fair hearing, and although I'm disappointed with the decision I'll accept my punishment and learn from it,'' he told the judiciary.

Young's sentence began as the Raiders held off the Storm 12-10 in the qualifying final at AAMI Park.

He then watched on a fortnight later as the Green Machine secured a memorable 16-10 victory over the Rabbitohs to book a spot in the big dance.

And he remained upbeat throughout the grand final week by helping his Canberra teammates prepare for the grand final, even playing the role of Roosters captain Boyd Cordner during an opposed session on the Tuesday.

"Hudson is a good kid, I really have to tip my hat to him because he's doing extra training and asking where he can help out," Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton said.

John Bateman used Young as some decent opposition in the middle of GIO Stadium.

After the loss the English back-rower said he was confident the side would take that one extra step to end Canberra's premiership drought.

"There is a special bunch of players here. We'll go on for years to come and we'll be in positions like this again and we'll get the win, I'm 100 per cent sure about it," Bateman said.