IT WASN'T a grand final, but for Leeton and the Bidgee Hurricanes, with the Frank Fiumara Memorial Cup to be played for, it was the closest either team will get to the pinnacle this season.

And it was a game worthy of a grand final as both sides slogged it out at No. 1 Oval, with the game going beyond the final siren and the Greens triumphing 40-38 in a high-scoring thriller.

"We showed a lot of character today, it could have gone either way," Greens coach Frank Fiumara said.

"Both of us should be in the five. We're not a bad two sides and on our day we can beat any team."

Despite being down a man for the last 10 minutes after Hayden Crockett was sin-binned, the Hurricanes led 26-18 at half time after running into the breeze and then went ahead 32-18 within the first minute of the restart.

Leeton had lost Kolo Lomu to an ankle injury in the first half and early in the second the Hurricanes lost playmaker Daniel Johnson. However, it didn't stop either side attacking the other's line with gusto.

"I told them to just wake up, enjoy themselves and start playing footy instead of panicking and trying to do too much," Fiumara said of his half-time speech.

The game-changer for the Greens was a 14-minute period in which Jeremy Panuccio scored a personal hat-trick and Sam Eisenhut his second as the pacey pair sliced through the Hurricanes' defence with ease to give their side the lead.

Steve Burrows scored his second for the 'Canes in that period to draw back level and Gary Ingram's conversion put them in front.

"I thought we were laughing either side of half-time," Hurricanes coach Simon Watson said.

"Against such a strong breeze and we were in front at half-time.

"We just had to hold possession and play position.

"We started giving the line a little bit of space and they showed what they can do."

Panuccio's third in the 31st minute was the sealer for the Greens, but the visitors refused to yield. Despite some handling errors, as the clock wound down the Hurricanes went into attack and received a penalty five metres out with 25 seconds to go. The 'Canes refused the chance at two points.

With the siren gone and play still going, a high cross-field kick was put up, fumbled in goal in the air by Leeton, only to land in Troy Preston's arms, who grounded it. After some dicsussion by the officials, it was deemed a knock on and the game was over.

"It was whoever kept possession the best and we had a couple of little errors," Watson said.

"People say we should have taken the two points, but it doesn't affect anything. We weren't doing it for the points on the table."

For Fiumara, the game had extra meaning, winning the trophy named after his late father.

"It means heaps," he said.

"All they boys knew that. Most of the boys knew the old man and knew the importance of it."