Warilla-South Lake had led by 16 points at half time in Saturday's preliminary final. However, Jamberoo fought back to draw level at 16-all, before Connor Ruse-Kent mustered the match-winner at Cec Glenholmes Oval.

The 22-16 victory means Warilla will now meet Gerringong in next Saturday's grand final.

Gorillas co-coach Troy Grant was full of praise for both his side and the Superoos after an epic preliminary final battle.

"It feels amazing. We unfortunately let them back in, but to come back the way we did and get into the big dance is sensational," Grant told the Mercury.

"They never gave up, but we didn't help ourselves either. Full credit to them, they dug deep and came back really well. It's obviously just pleasing that we got the victory in the end."

Grant said Warilla's youth stood up well late in Saturday's game.

"These are young bodies. That's probably the hardest thing, week in, week out playing first grade footy against men," he said.

"I know they're big boys but the bodies have got to hold up. They've done well."

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The Gorillas started well on Saturday, earning themselves three successive sets. However, despite being in good territory, they couldn't handle the ball, taking the pressure off the Superoos.

Warilla continued to benefit from Jamberoo's ill discipline in the opening stages. And the Gorillas made them pay, with halfback Blair Grant dancing around his opponent and dashing away to score. Grant couldn't convert his own try, but the Gorillas led 4-0.

Warilla chewed up the metres in the ensuing play. On the last play, Jake Brisbane put up a towering kick which was well taken by Jamberoo winger Nathan Gallastegui.

After receiving a penalty, the Superoos were able to get deep into Warilla territory, but a grubber kick was easily defused.

Around the 10-minute mark, there was a groan from the crowd after Warilla's Samuel Hooper was taken down late after a kick. The referee awarded a penalty, as the pressure piled on the visitors.

The Gorillas nearly scored after a wrap-around-play led to fullback Justin Jones being dragged down inches from the line. On the next play, Hooper threw a dummy and dived over to score.

Grant nailed the conversion and Warilla led 10-0.

Momentum continued to swing towards the Gorillas. A clever grubber around the 15-minute mark forced fullback Kurt Field to bat the ball dead, leading to a Jamberoo dropout.

A drinks break after 20 minutes seemed to work in the Superoos' favour, as they earned back-to-back sets. A short ball from five-eighth Mark Asquith to brother Luke saw him pulled down just short of the line.

After receiving a penalty, Jamberoo looked to pile on the pressure but Jarryd Smith couldn't control possession, with Brisbane scooping up the ball and beating several opponents before finally being dragged down after a 60-metre dash.

Warilla continued to move the ball forward, with a clever kick forcing another Jamberoo dropout. However, Jake Goody couldn't control the ball in the ensuing play.

With about 10 minutes left, Jamberoo received a penalty to get themselves into good territory. They spread the ball wide, however, an errant pass from Smith was cleaned up by a Warilla opponent.

After receiving a penalty, the Gorillas marched the ball up field, with Justin Jones being dragged down just short of the line. On the last play, Brisbane put up a dangerous kick towards winger Liam Vane-Tempest, who grabbed the ball and planted it down in the corner.

Grant converted to give the Gorillas a 16-0 lead.

Soon after, Mark Asquith looked to spark his Superoos with a great run, however, his pass to Luke missed the mark, allowing Warilla to tidy up the ball.

There were concerns for Brisbane who stayed down after landing awkwardly in a tackle. But he remained on the field.

Minutes later, Jamberoo's Smith found space along the touch before being tackled. On the final tackle, Kyle Pinch-Stone looked to barge over and score, but Warilla's defence managed to hold on.

As the half-time siren sounded, there was some push and shove between the teams. However, the score remained 16-0 at half time.

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Warilla returned to the field for the second half without Brisbane.

To have any sniff of a comeback, Jamberoo needed to start well. And they did that, with strong defence caused a Warilla error on the halfway line early in the half.

And, after receiving a penalty, the Superoos spread the ball wide to Smith who beat his opponent to score in the corner. Field couldn't convert and Jamberoo trailed 16-4.

Both sides made good metres in the next couple of sets, but errors would prove costly at the end of each set.

But the Gorillas continued to pile on the pressure, with strong defence leading to another Jamberoo dropout. From the re-start, Grant looked threatening on the fourth tackle, but his pass to a flying Jones just missed the mark.

That missed opportunity would prove costly.

On the back of a penalty, the Superoos powered up the field, before a great short pass from Mark Asquith opened the door for Simon Maslanka to dash away and score.

Field nailed the conversion to cut the deficit to 16-10.

On the next play, Jamberoo continued to find big metres. Luke Asquith then made a great break before he passed to a and a short pass to a flying Field, who dived over under the posts.

Field again converted to draw level at 16-all, as the referee called for a three-quarter time drinks break.

Both sides continued to make big metres after the break. However, the key moment occurred with around 14 minutes later.

After receiving a penalty, Warilla's forwards moved the ball into the attacking 10m line. From the play the ball, Grant was able to draw in his opponent before flicking the ball to Connor Ruse-Kent, who dived over to score.

Grant converted the try and the Gorillas led 22-16.

Momentum continued to swing towards the home side, with Warilla earning back-to-back sets following a penalty. On the last tackle, Grant put in a grubber into touch to give his side a rest.

Jamberoo were able to earn consecutive sets of their own on the back of a penalty. On the last tackle, Daniel Burke put in a little grubber kick, which trapped the Gorillas in-goal.

From the drop-out, the Gorillas were able to force a handling error, to the delight of their home crowd.

Warilla looked controlled during the ensuing set, which was finished off with a nice kick into touch by Grant.

The Superoos had some half-chances in the dying minutes, but the Gorillas were able to hold on for victory.

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Jamberoo five-eighth Mark Asquith was left to lament a missed opportunity on Saturday.

"We really wanted to be in the grand final again this year, after last year," he said.

"But we've had two losses to Warilla this year, they're a good, young side. We didn't start well, we got the momentum back in the second half, but they finished strong. They deserve it.

"But we never gave up. These are a really good bunch of guys that we play with each week and we know what we can do when we're playing well. But we stick it out, whether we're playing well or playing poorly. We just couldn't get the win in the end today."