lmuir@dailyadvertiser.com.au

BROTHERS captain-coach Riley Mullins could barely raise a smile after the Brethren stumped Kangaroos 10-4 in the Group Nine reserve grade grand final at Equex Centre yesterday.

Mullins was nursing a painful neck injury as Brothers celebrated beating arch-Wagga rivals Kangaroos in a thriller.

After a tight first half, the Brethren and Roos were locked at four-all at half-time before Mullins emerged as a hero for his team.

Stepping through the Roos defence in the 39th minute, Mullins created the chance Brothers needed before off-loading for lock Chris Adams to surge over for a try.

With Adams' conversion, the Brethren were out to a 10-4 lead and it was all they needed.

Despite Roos mounting intense pressure at times, Brothers held tight and outlasted the warm favourites for the title.

Looking shaken by his injury, Mullins said the victory was a triumph for loyalty in football.

"There are 15 (Brothers) juniors in the team," Mullins said.

"There was lots youth and experience."

Mullins admitted the thought of Mad Monday celebrations today were far from his mind.

"I've been better," he said.

"They (medical staff) think I've pinched a nerve.

"It's pretty uncomfortable."

With Brothers clinging to the six-point lead, Mullins was hurt with about eight minutes left.

Even without their inspiration skipper, the Brethren rallied to stop Roos snatching a try to possibly send the game into extra-time.

While Mullins was a Brothers hero yesterday, hooker John Campbell also starred.

A second-year veterinary science student at Charles Sturt University, Campbell was judged the best on the ground in the grand final.

Campbell, 20, did not mince words later, describing Brothers success as "ugly".

"There was nothing pretty about it," he said.

"The result still counts."

Campbell and Mullins were the mainstays of Brothers yesterday, but lock Adams and prop Shaun Coe also won plaudits.

Chris Mayberry, Jaryd Ritchie and Joe Cooper were standouts for Roos.