THEY put Mount Isa on the map and became the most popular pair on My Kitchen Rules.
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But ultimately, the underdogs from Mount Isa in outback Queensland, Jac and Shaz, fell agonisingly short as they strived for an epic victory in the My Kitchen Rules finale.
Despite scoring 50 out of 60 in a final of the highest quality, NSW boys Will and Steve were victorious with a superb score of 52 out of 60.
For Jac and Shaz, a total of 50.
The judges are amazed and full of praise.
"Confident, creative and captivating."
"You cooked with great flair and expertise."
"Your cooking encapsulated everything about you: Love, laughter and life."
The girls are over the moon.
"Chicks from the sticks have just picked up 50 out of 60 in the final of MKR," Jac says.
But Will and Steve have prevailed by two points in an epic final.
The judges are critiquing Jac and Shaz's dishes. They are feeling confident.
But the judges are also pleased with what Will and Steve have produced. This is a cliff-hanger.
Judge Pete Evans praised both teams for their handiwork in the kitchen in the final.
"The calibre of food that you produced was sensational," he said.
"You played to your strengths."
Judge Manu outlines what most already know, that the verdict could go either way.
"Let me tell you.. it's very close," he said.
Jac and Shaz serve red velvet as their fifth course and dessert for the judges
"The dessert has just floored me.... it's just a whirlwind on the palate," one judge says.
"It's a beautiful thing."
"It's a professional dessert."
But Will and Steve have also finished off their night in style.
"OMG, it's amazing."
"It's deserves to be in a fine-class restaurant."
It's time for the judges critique. Have Jac and Shaz done enough?
The cooking has been finalised with the serving of the fifth course.
The teams have prepared scrumptious-looking desserts.
Will the red velvet dish be enough for Jac and Shaz to pull off victory?
"Win or lose, this has been the most amazing experience of our lives," Shaz says.
Jac and Shaz confident in their fifth course, they say they are well prepared.
They are serving dessert of red velvet with chocolate and raspberry.
"This is the last dish we'll ever do on My Kitchen Rules," Jac says.
Will and Steve have forgotten the fennel from their dessert of fennel biscuits.
Judges says Will and Steve's duck is well above average.
"I'm loving this dish, really enjoying the salty richness of the duck."
"The crispiness of that duck skin is fantastic."
Jac and Shaz have served beef cheeks with port and celeriac puree.
"It's just full of flavour," one judge says.
"There's a lot of flavour in the sauce."
"I'm loving the richness of the beef cheek."
Who has the advantage going into the final round? It's neck-and-neck.
Jac and Shaz are serving beef cheeks for their fourth course. Is it over-cooked?
They are slightly concerned but the judges also have concerns for Will and Steve's duck.
It's time for the fourth course. This one could make or break the competition.
Jac and Shaz are cooking beef cheeks.
"The beef cheeks are a family favourite," Jac says.
"This is our last savoury dish of the competition. We need to knock it out of the park," Shaz says.
The boys are cooking duck. There is less than an hour remaining in the competition.
Jac and Shaz's comfit salmon is proving troublesome. Is it cooked? They are banking on the salmon cooking more while it's on the plate.
The family have their fingers crossed for Jac and Shaz's comfit salmon.
The judges have handed down their verdict.
"Another classic combination, perfectly cooked salmon."
"A beautiful flavour coming through... I'm really enjoying that."
But the boys have impressed the judges too.
Jac and Shaz's second course is also popular with judges.
The judges critique:
"The lamb is cooked nice and pink."
"My palate is wanting more."
"(Jac and Shaz) are playing us the classics."
"Everything on this plate works."
But the judges can see Will and Steve's dish is rushed. It's advantage Jac and Shaz!
Family and friends of Jac and Shaz are right behind our Mount Isa girls as they get their second course ready.
The chant of "Jac and Shaz" is roaring through the kitchen.
Will and Steve admit their second course "isn't one of their finest".
But the Isa girls are confident in their lamb serving.
"I'm feeling on top of the world at the moment," Jac says.
First course has been served and both teams are pleased with their efforts.
"You are the plating queen," Shaz tells Jac.
"I know these flavours work... I'm confident this will put us in a good position."
Will and Steve's fish dish has received rave reviews for their first course.
Jac and Shaz's prawns with avocado and grapefruit is perhaps even more popular with judges.
"(It's) just so high quality," one judge says.
The judges are unanimous in their praise of the presentation and execution of the Mount Isa girls' dish.
The first hiccup of the final has been made by Jac and Shaz's opponents. Will and Steve have discovered their kingfish still has skin on it - now it's a race against time to remove it before serving.
Jac and Shaz are cooking:
1st course: Prawns, avocado and pink grapefruit
2nd course: Lamb with fetta, beetroot, rosemary and honey
3rd course: Comfit salmon
4th course: Beef cheeks
5th course: Red velvet
"I haven't cooked for $50, let alone $250,000," Shaz says.
Judge Pete Evans says Will and Steve are the front-runners in the competition.
"Victory will bring you the ultimate reward - the title of of My Kitchen Rules champions and the prize of $250,000," Judge Manu said.
"The pride of Mount Isa.. two girls with strength, tenacity, courage."
Shaz says it's about doing it for Mount Isa.
"We're just two outback girls from the mining town of Mount Isa, we're just Jac and Saz.
"We love to cook.. we just wanted to have a go."
"We're doing it for Mount Isa, we're doing it for our families.. we're here to put Mount Isa on the map."
The finalists will cook 100 plates for a packed restaurant.
THEY entered the competition as the girls from Mount Isa, but now Jac and Shaz are on the brink of an unbelievable victory on My Kitchen Rules.
Mount Isa cousins Jacqui Bakhash and Sharon Sellings (Jac and Shaz) are about to cook for the crown on My Kitchen Rules. Can the girls from Mount Isa cook their way to victory?