That was the feeling of both Goulburn Mulwaree Council mayor and deputy mayor Peter Walker at the end of the 2021 NRL grand final.

The two South Sydney Rabbitohs tragics were disappointed with their side's 14-12 loss to the Penrith Panthers on Sunday, October 3.

Cr Kirk said that although he was unhappy with the result, he couldn't fault his side's efforts.

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"It was a terrific game, " Cr Kirk said.

"With the intercept try, if the pass had stuck the other way, it could have been 18-8 in favour of the Rabbits.

"Most other days, Adam Reynolds would have kicked either the goal from the sideline or the field goal and we might have had a different outcome."

The fan of the Rabbits since 1966 said looking at the season as a whole, he wasn't surprised with how far they went in the competition.

"I rated them right from the start and thought they were going to find it tough to get to the grand final, but when they beat Penrith in the first semifinal, that changed everything," he said.

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"Throughout the competition, they just never beat the two teams above them, but beyond that, they were pretty solid all year round."

In what Cr Walker called one of the best defensive grand finals of all time, he wouldn't take any excuses for his side's loss.

"I get very annoyed with people picking one or two things out of the game and then saying that's where the game was lost," Cr Walker said.

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"There's also those who say the injured Latrell Mitchell was the difference, but one player doesn't make a team.

"There weren't too many mistakes, Nathan Cleary's kicking game was good and I think it was probably one of the best defensive finals I've seen for a long time."

Walker, who watched the match with his wife and son, cheered on his side with the whole house filled with Rabbit's flags and hats.

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