A dominant second half ensured Junee remain in the premiership fight.
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The Diesels needed to overturn a first-half deficit against Young to lock in fourth position and keep their season alive.
They well and truly did that, scoring 30 unanswered points to take a 40-14 with at Alfred Oval on Sunday and set up a date with Gundagai in the first week of the finals.
Young fired early to lead 8-0 and took a 14-10 lead into the break, but with it all to play for the Diesels responded.
Front rower Simione Naiduki crashed over shortly after the break as they started on a course to victory.
Coach Jim Vatubuli was thrilled with how they toughed it at.
“We live to fight another day,” Vatubuli said.
Coming into the final round three teams were still in the hunt for the last finals spot.
With Cootamundra well on their way to victory, and Tumut still in the hunt against Southcity, Junee needed to step up.
Imploring them to find a new level at the half-time break, Vatubuli was pleased with their second half performance.
“It was going to be a big ask for the boys to come out in the second half but they stepped up,” he said.
“I asked the boys to be patient and capitalise on every opportunity given.
“We defended well in the second half too.”
The Diesels scored five tries in the second half to see Young’s disappointing season end in defeat.
Pat Sweeney seems to have found a new home at five-eighth and impressed but Vatubuli struggled to find many standouts.
Instead he was pleased with the whole team’s approach.
“We needed that win and everyone dug in there, really ground it out and weathered the storm in the first 10 minutes,” he said.
“Coming into the second half they were still firing back but the boys kept their cool, were patient to come out winners at the end.”
The win sets up a rematch of the 2015 grand final, when the Tigers were victorious, at Anzac Park.
Both sides have taken comfortable wins just the home ground advantage so far this season, but both will be playing for their seasons this time around.
Simon Wilson came off with an elbow complaint but Vatubuli expects he will be right to face the Tigers, who are coming off a big loss to Albury on Sunday.
Matt Hands also made a cameo appearance despite concerns he’d played his last game for the season.
