RUGBY LEAGUE: In the end they gave it their all but the Whitsunday Brahmans couldn't claim back-to-back premierships.

Taking a 12-all scoreline into half-time, the Magpies were able to find another gear in the second half as they ran out 28-14 winners.

"Once they had it we just found it hard," Brahmans' captain Dane Vardanega said.

"They just lifted all the way through the second half and we just couldn't get it back."

It'd been 15 years since the Magpies last lifted the trophy.

Brahmans A-grade coach James Webb said it was an uncharacteristic performance.

"We just made some errors that we wouldn't normally make. We made errors at the wrong end of the field and you just can't do that," he said.

"We're a good defensive side, but we just didn't have any ball. The mountain just got too big the climb in the end."

Despite the loss, Webb was optimistic about their season.

"I think we only dropped three games this year, one of them being the grand final which was unfortunate," he said. "A lot of young guys got the opportunity to play with some very good players which is going to stand the club in good stead for next year."

Mackay's BB Print Stadium witnessed a classic opening half on Saturday night as the Magpies opened the scoring and converted to make it 6-0.

Their lead was short-lived however as Kai O'Donnell crashed over for the Brahmans and they converted to make it 6-all after 20 minutes.

Next it was the Brahmans turn to take the lead through a Sam Gardel try to make it 12-6.

However any hopes of a half-time lead were dashed when the Magpies swooped to make it 12-all with five minutes left until the break.

The second half saw a relentless Magpies performance with three unanswered second half tries to seal the match and the Mackay & District premiership.