A hat-trick to Tiana Penitani - later announced as player of the tournament - inspired the City side, who were boosted by the inclusion of Jillaroos prop Simaima Taufa for the final.

But it was the little-known players, Penitani and Botille Vette-Welsh, who kept Country, featuring Gerringong's Ruan Sims and Bega's Kezie Apps, on the back foot throughout the second half.

Country had a fair case for a six-again call just after half-time that went against them, and that proved the turning point for Matt Parish's side as City piled on four tries in 11 minutes.

City halfback Maddie Studdon capped off a solid tournament with a slick solo try, while centres Jess Sergis and Shontelle Stowers were both solid.

"We just pulled through especially in the second half, I'm so proud of the girls," Studdon said.

"This year we were more prepared and it was like revenge, we really wanted it.

"We knew we could get it, we had to play to our full strength - we just wanted it so much more than Country."

Earlier, City took just two minutes to get over the line with Penitani finishing off a backline movement on the left edge for the first of the afternoon.

Back-to-back penalties enabled NSW Country to march up field and veteran hooker Kylie Hilder made a sharp run look easy to burrow her way over to level the scores in the seventh minute.

Country continued to surge with better field position but a forward pass from Ruan Sims to Bec Young turned momentum as City crossed again through Penitani in near identical fashion for the fifth try of her impressive tournament.

On the way to the final at Burleigh, NSW Country defeated the Australian Defence Force 54-nil and Queensland Country 20-14.