Sam Wykes' converted try gave the Spirit an unassailable 21-point lead © Getty Images

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Perth Spirit stunned minor premiers Melbourne Rising 45-29 in the second semi-final of the inaugural National Rugby Championship and will now travel to Queensland to take on Brisbane City in the grand final next Saturday.

The Rising thumped the Spirit 44-24 at AAMI Park in round four but the visitors reversed that result in some style to inflict upon their hosts a first defeat of the year

The Spirit defended resiliently against wave after wave of Rising attack in the opening 15 minutes, countering Jack Debreczeni's enormous boot with deep positioning of Ross Haylett-Petty and Luke Morahan who often found the line behind Melbourne's back three with return kicks.

Perth winger Marcel Brache scored a brace of tries just minutes apart to shock the Melbourne faithful, but Mitch Inman found space in midfield soon afterwards and the visitors led 13-8 heading into the break.

Perth's direct attack troubled Melbourne, as they continually sucked in defender after defender before sending the ball wide to their dangerous outside backs, but they were aided by basic errors from the hosts with ball in hand.

The Spirit went further ahead immediately after the break through Oli Hoskins before Rising fullback Jonah Placid produced a piece of individual brilliance to spark the hosts into action; Junior Rasolea - the defensive culprit for Inman's try - and Brache were caught napping defensively once more, but Melbourne were otherwise unable to dominate field possession and dissect the opposition defensive line as they had done throughout the regular season.

Perth's Ammon Matuauto scored before captain Sam Wykes dived over the line with 15 minutes to play, when Zack Holmes added the extras to claim a 21-point margin that was too much for the competition favourites despite a pair of late tries.

"We knew that they were going to be very direct and they've got some big boys in Mitch Inman and Lopeti Timani so we knew if they got on top in that first 15, they were going to run away with the game," Wykes said. "Our defence was a big key coming into this game and then, coming off the back of five efforts in a row defensively, we scored and built momentum from there."

Brisbane City celebrate reaching the NRC Final © Getty Images

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Brisbane City on Friday recorded a 32-26 comeback win over New South Wales Country Eagles at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford to claim the first spot in the inaugural National Rugby Championship grand final.

City threw caution to the wind from the outset, as Brando Va'aulu found himself on the end of a City backline exchange to open Brisbane's account after just one minute. Country hit straight back through fly-half Sam Windsor after some prolonged phase play and with six minutes gone, scores were level at 8-all.

Va'aulu made another five-point contribution to his side five minutes later, as he saved a certain try to Apakuki Mau'fu with an extraordinary last gasp punch at the football. But the Eagles continued to apply pressure to the fringe of the City defensive line and with 14 minutes on the clock, Samu Wara fought through contact to score just inside the right hand corner.

After Eagles flanker Will Miller was shown a yellow card following repeated infringements inside the Country 22 and another two scrum penalties five metres out from the Country line, the City front row were rewarded for their hard work with a penalty try to open up a 16-13 lead. Ita Vaea was the next to notch a five-pointer, the Country No.8 using all of his 119kg to slide the ball over the line and put his team back in front, 21-16 after 30.

Then, with six minutes remaining in the first term, Eagles outside centre Ed Stubbs picked off a McIntyre cutout pass and ran 40 metres to score.

City needed to strike first in the second half to remain a chance and they did just that, as Samu Kerevi delivered an on-time pass to Chris Kuridrani through contact and once again, Va'aulu supported well to grab his second try of the night. After McIntyre added the extras, Toby White compounded Va'aulu's effort when he charged down a David Horwitz kick and beat the covering defender to score.

That would be the final scoring play of the night, as the away side held out the Eagles and ran out 32-26 winners.

They will face the winner of tomorrow afternoon's semi-final between Melbourne Rising and Perth Spirit at AAMI Park.

City captain Dave McDuling was brimming with pride post match.

"I'm really proud of the boys today," McDuling said. "That's what semi-finals are all about, we spoke about attitude and staying calm and working hard for each other. Before the game and at halftime we never mentioned the result, we just spoke about working hard and the rest would come with it so I thought it was a great effort to come back tonight.