The players and coach Ricky Stuart refused to have a crack at the referees, despite being on the wrong end of some crucial calls in a 14-8 defeat. Here's what was said in the aftermath of an enthralling grand final.

"You all saw it. None of us here will be commenting on [the decisions] tonight. It's not the time to talk about it. The Roosters achieved something very special tonight - winning two grand finals in a row - I don't want to take the spotlight off that," Stuart said.

"Instead of me tomorrow saying what I think and then getting abused in regards to my unsportsmanship, you write what you think.

"The first thing I did when I walked onto the field is I went to the four officials and congratulated them on a big effort. No one goes out there to make a mistake. They've got tough jobs and it was a really good game of football tonight. We could've won it, we didn't and it's a very empty feeling losing a grand final."

"It's an empty feeling. I'm just so proud of these boys and this club and how far we've come. I believe it is [the start of something]. It's tough to talk or look at that side of things at the moment, it's pretty empty," Croker said.

"It's been such a great year for the club and Canberra. It's such a strong culture we've built, but it's hard to come up with any sweeteners at the moment.

"We put ourselves in a position to win that game. I hope Canberra is proud of the way we played tonight and how we conducted ourselves.

"We've turned this green jersey into a tough, gritty, scrappy footy side."

"If we're going to go back to a decision then we can go back to lots of decisions," Robinson said.

"There were lots of decisions there where you have an opportunity and you have to take it. There was a lot in tonight, you can talk about lots of decisions in the game but we nailed the execution of the opportunity we had.

"We defended [without Cooper Cronk] for 10 minutes but no one is asking about it. It's not for now."

"I am dumbfounded by that. I'd be shattered if I was the Raiders. It's not a great look. Huge, huge call," Thurston said.

"I don't know what to say. I thought we built momentum in the back end of the second half and just a few crucial calls didn't go our way," Papalii said.

"We couldn't defend for the long shifts and then [James] Tedesco scores. We're happy with the season, but it's disappointing.

"It'd say it's [the most shattered I've been]. I'm lost for words, it was there for the taking and we just didn't take it.

"It wasn't meant to be. I [hurt] my pec. Something new, I think in the first tackle of the game."

"Very numb at the moment. First time being in this position. I really felt we had to the team to do it this year. Its one of those games, hard to soak in and hard to swallow," Wighton said.

So close by so far. That was the competition all year. Hats off to our boys for a great year, hats off to the Roosters. But absolutely gut wrenching.

"Id like to thank all our Raiders fans for turning up tonight. This is the numbest feeling Ive ever felt. Congratulations to the Sydney Roosters, hopefully we see you again in a dance like this."

"Thank you to everyone involved in rugby league. Ive been blessed to be able to play this game, its a humbling experience. Im ready for retirement," Cronk said.

"It's not ideal. I'm not here to criticise the referees, but I didn't think it was a sin bin. It took heart and soul. This club cops a lot of criticism, but it's got a big heart."

"It's been a great journey. The Roosters really set the benchmark and you guys deserve the result you got," Soliola said.

"To our boys, it's been an awesome ride. But this isn't the end of us, this is just the beginning."

"Credit to Canberra, they came out all guns blazing. We stuck in there, we grabbed our opportunity and then held on at the end there. God it feels good," Cordner said.

"There are so many emotions going through my head right now. I can't really think straight, I'm overwhelmed. We're going to enjoy this."

"I'm a bit lost for words at the moment. We worked really hard there ... small things win big games. It could have gone either way for a long period there. We weren't as clinical as we needed to be," Hodgson said.

"I love the boys to death. We've got an amazing group, hopefully this is the first final of many for us. It's really painful at the moment, like a punch to the stomach. But this is what drives you to [win more]."

"This could have been a huge advantage to the Raiders. Whitehead was the only player pursuing, it could have been a try under the posts," Gould said. "Canberra fans should be very proud of their team tonight."

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