Roar coach Mike Mulvey agrees the team is now the A-League benchmark after defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in extra time yesterday before a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.
Western Sydney dared to dream of a maiden title in only their second season after Matthew Spiranovic's 56th minute header drew first blood.
But Melbourne Victory-bound star striker Besart Berisha equalised with five minutes left in regular time, then sent the anxious Roar faithful - and Mulvey - into raptures when Brazilian Henrique fired in the 108th minute match-winner in extra time.
A big crowd of 51,153 gave both teams a rousing reception when they took the field.
Mike Mulvey and Tony Popovic both had a full complement of players after Brisbane's Liam Miller and Dimi Petratos and the Wanderers' Mark Bridge passed late fitness tests.
The away team was first to settle down after a tentative start to the match and Michael Theo was forced to rush out of the penalty area and head the ball away to thwart Youssouf Hersi.
The Wanderers were enjoying the lion's share of possession while Brisbane was struggling to get its famed passing game going mainly because chief playmaker Thomas Broich was closely marked.
In the 22nd minute striker Brendon Santalab was fractionally late in meeting an inviting cross from Jerome Polenz and his header fell harmlessly into the grateful arms of Theo.
Brisbane created its first scoring opportunity as late as the 27th minute when Broich made enough space for himself just outside the penalty area to fire a low shot that whistled past Ante Covic's right post.
The Wanderers had a lucky escape just before halftime when a speculative lob from Ivan Franjic deceived Covic and the ball hit the bar but rebounded to safety.
A dour first half ended with the Wanderers marginally on top.
Brisbane seemed to change gear in the second half and Besart Berisha and Franjic both had chances to open the scoring.
The Wanderers dramatically took the lead on 55 minutes when defender Matthew Spiranovic headed the ball in from a corner for his first A-League goal.
The Wanderers suffered a massive blow on 64 minutes when captain Nikolai-Topor Stanley twisted his knee in making a crucial tackle on Berisha and was replaced by Aaron Mooy, with midfielder Iacopo La Rocca dropping back to centre-half.
Berisha looked like scoring for Brisbane soon after when he was cleanly put through by Broich but the striker's shot was deflected to corner by Spiranovic.
Substitute striker Henrique then saw his snap shot miss the bar as Brisbane tried to up the ante.
As pressure mounted fullback Franjic saw his rising shot turned to corner by Covic.
Brisbane drew level five minutes from time when Berisha - who else? - got on the end of a free kick from Broich to head home.
Wanderers substitute Labinot Haliti had a chance to put his side back in the lead six minutes into extra time but his low shot was saved by Theo.
Suncorp erupted into an explosion of joy two minutes into the second period of extra-time when Henrique put Brisbane in the lead with a rising shot from six metres out that ultimately proved decisive.
Roar coach Mike Mulvey said it’s in the club’s "DNA to never give up".
“Why give up?” he said. “Until the final whistle, there’s always a chance.”
He credited Western Sydney - "they gave us one hell of a game today” - and said seeing a full house at Suncorp Stadium and players achieving the club’s targets for the season was "very special".
He added he was privileged to coach Broich, the "architect", paying tribute to his desire to continue improving as a footballer.
The championship win marked goalkeeper Michael Theo’s fifth A-League grand final and his third winning with Brisbane Roar (the previous two were with Melbourne Victory).
The Joe Marston Medal as best on ground could not be split with Broich and Wanderers' Italian La Rocca named joint winners.
Western Sydney had little time to wallow in defeat, flying out of Brisbane on Sunday night to Sydney ahead of Wednesday's AFC Champions League match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan.
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