A teenage sensation from Cairns sent a shockwave through the John I Dent Cup after starring in a game that had almost everything on Saturday.
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Twist's four tries were impressive, but there was so much more to watch as the previously win-less Easts beat title favourites the Gungahlin Eagles 32-22.
The game had Wallabies' World Cup hopefuls on either side, a coach knocked out in his comeback game, punches, four yellow cards and Twist's electric brilliance.
It was a dramatic way to end the regular season and leaves the Eagles licking their wounds after a disastrous day for the club.
The Eagles started the last round as favourites to finish at the top of the ladder. By the end of an absorbing 80 minutes they had slipped to third and face an elimination play-off match against the Uni-Norths Owls next week.
Gungahlin's stumble opened the door for Tuggeranong to clinch the minor premiership, with the defending champions to play against Royals in the major semi-final next weekend.
But Easts were perhaps the team smiling most on Saturday, finally breaking through for their first win of the year.
Twist made sure his teammates had something to celebrate, scoring a hat-trick before half-time and then finishing the job after the break before being sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge.
The 19-year-old former junior Australian sevens representative moved to Canberra last year to live with uncle Tim Cornforth, who is also the Easts' coach.
Cornforth came out of retirement against Gungahlin to help his injury-depleted team, but he was knocked out when he collided with Henry Speight.
The unlucky collision was so bad the referee considered moving the game to another field, but Cornforth eventually got to his feet and was able to celebrate.
"It's been a really tough and long year," Cornforth said. "A lot of young boys have stepped up this year.
"I've been seeing them hurt this year and you just want to be in the battle with them. I'm so glad they got the reward they deserved to finish it off."
Twist found himself playing opposite Speight and alongside Wallabies hopefuls Pete Samu and Toni Pulu.
"It's been a big learning curve for me," Twist said. "It was unreal to play against [Speight], there were so many nerves. It was crazy and to finally get the win feels so good."
Samu was making his comeback from a hamstring injury, while ACT Brumbies lock Blake Enever scored Easts' other try.
Even with Samu back on the field the Eagles were expected to topple Easts and win the club's first minor premiership since 2007.
But they were always behind in the battle and Twist's first-half feats proved too much in the end.
The Eagles lost just three games during the regular season, two of those coming in the last two rounds.
"We turned over too much ball in attack," said Eagles coach Marco Caputo.
"You'd hope you don't need a result like that to light a fire. We've got to front up now and rip in [next weekend]. You can't dwell on it. You don't lose the good things you've done overnight."
Wests caused another upset across town, beating the Owls to ensure departing coach Craig Robberds finished his 24-year first-grade association on a high.
AT A GLANCE
Saturday: EASTS 32 (Tiko Twist 4, Blake Enever tries; Darcy Eason 2 conversions, penalty) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 22 (Oscar Cunningham 2, JP Fenukitau, Luke Duffey tries; Josh Gillard conversion), TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 22 bt ROYALS 17, WESTS 40 bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 26.
FINALS
Major semi-final: Tuggeranong Vikings v Royals at Viking Park, 3pm on Saturday.
Minor semi-final: Gungahlin Eagles v Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park, 3pm on Sunday.