Then 14, Toomua, pictured below, was in Brisbane watching the game on TV with his dad. This afternoon he's the linchpin of the team's attack.

''To think I'm part of the next [final] is quite amazing … winning the Cup and bringing it home for Canberra in our 100th birthday would be extremely special,'' Toomua said.

Reserve flanker Colby Faingaa, a year younger than Toomua, was closer to home, living in Queanbeyan, part of a rugby-mad family.

''I saw the last home home grand final the Brumbies had in 2004 and never imagined I'd be in the position I am to get a chance to do what those players did,'' Faingaa said.

Those players' dreams could come true this afternoon in Hamilton, New Zealand, where the Brumbies are outsiders against the defending champion Waikato Chiefs.

If they win, a whole new generation of rugby players in the capital and elsewhere will have their own dreams to cherish.

Burgmann Anglican School under-11 players Tyler Williams, Jesse Croker, Matthew Browning, Chris Campese and Finlay McLachlan represent this generation.

They were too young to remember the last Brumbies final, but they couldn't be more fired up about this one.

For Croker, the son of Canberra Raiders legend Jason, the Brumbies golden era is just a figment of the imagination.

''I don't remember it, but I just remember seeing it on the news,'' he said.

The likes of Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Jesse Mogg, Ben Mowen, Steve Moore and Henry Speight will be watched very closely by the Burgmann boys, who will take great inspiration from their beloved Brumbies.

In fact, the youngsters all admitted to improving their own games because of these men.

Finlay McLachlan wants to be a great goal kicker just like his hero Lealiifano, while Matthew Browning has been working on his speed like Jesse Mogg.

''I love his counter-attacks, his support and his flick pass when he doesn't even look,'' Matthew said.

So do these future Brumbies stars think the Brumbies can win their third Super Rugby title?

For sure.

And how?

''The Brumbies will score a try in the last minute and Lealiifano will kick the conversion,'' Finlay said.