Cree ended a near-perfect year in fitting fashion as the Vikings held on against Royals for a 28-21 victory at Viking Park.

The seven-point win capped a stellar career for Vikings scrumhalf and club great Beau Mokotupu, who will retire after 13 seasons in first grade, 11 grand finals and seven premierships.

Cree was outstanding and named man of the match to go alongside his prize for winning the Macdougall Medal as the competition's best and fairest.

But far from satisfied, the 26-year-old wants to impress ACT Brumbies coach Jake White as he attempts to win a professional contract. The Brumbies will almost certainly invite Cree to pre-season training with some roster spots still up for grabs.

''My main focus has just been winning the grand final, that's all I wanted,'' Cree said.

''Hopefully I get a chance [with the Brumbies], but I have been trying not to think about it.

''It's an awesome feeling. At the start of the year we started fresh and we just wanted to send everyone out on the right note.''

The Vikings have won four premierships in the past five years. Their premiership three-peat is just the second time in the club's 40 years they've won three grand finals in a row.

Cree and rising fullback Brendon Taueki scored two tries each as the Vikings had to withstand a late charge from Royals.

Cree scored what most thought was the match-winner with just 12 minutes left. But Brumbies hooker Siliva Siliva hit back for Royals with eight minutes left and the underdogs launched one last charge for the trophy.

They secured a turnover with no time left on the clock and peppered the Vikings' try line.

But just as they surged for a score-levelling try, they were caught in a maul and lost possession as the Vikings held on before celebrating.

The Vikings have already set their sights on winning a fourth grand final in a row for the first time in the club's history.

But the premiership hat-trick was the last milestone left to tick off for Mokotupu. The 32-year-old has played in 11 grand finals since arriving in Australia from New Zealand 13 years ago.

The two-time Macdougall Medal winner decided to call time on his first-grade career because of work commitments and he was one of the Vikings' stars in the grand final.

Cree said Mokotupu's departure was the ''main driving force'' behind a premiership charge.

''At the beginning of the season I knew this would be my last. I wanted to have fun and now I'm feeling a bit of everything,'' Mokotupu said.

''I never thought I'd say I'm sad to win a grand final, but this is the last one. But I've loved it. I never wanted to dream of this because I didn't want to be shattered if it didn't happen.

''But now I'm loving it. How else would you want to end your career? This is amazing.''

First-year Vikings coach Brad Harris said: ''You don't get sick of that feeling, I'm really proud. We had limited chances and just had to scramble in defence, which is what big games are won on.''

TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 28 (Tim Cree 2, Brendon Taueki 2 tries; Zack Holmes 4 conversions) bt ROYALS 21 (Siliva Siliva, Jay Cash tries; Craig McMahon 3 penalties, conversion).