An NRL staffer is driving the prestigious JJ Giltinan Shield to Canberra where it will be presented to the Raiders after full-time if they defeat Wests Tigers on Saturday.
Melbourne’s shock loss to the Sydney Roosters on Friday means the Raiders can move four points clear on top of the ladder with one round remaining if they beat the Tigers. That left the NRL scrambling on Saturday morning to get the minor premiership trophy to Canberra in time.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the NRL had initially hoped to present the silverware to the Raiders in week one of the finals.
The Raiders play the Dolphins in Brisbane next weekend in the final round of the regular season, and it made sense for the trophy presentation to take place in Canberra during the qualifying final.
However, Green Machine officials wanted the celebration to take place on Saturday if the Roosters defeated the Storm and the Raiders defeat the Tigers.
And that meant an NRL staffer hopping in his car with the trophy on Saturday and making the three-hour drive down the Hume Highway. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is now flying straight from Melbourne, where he helped celebrate Craig Bellamy’s 600th game as coach on Friday night, to the nation’s capital.
Mark Nawaqanitawase’s acrobatics and the Roosters’ win in Melbourne have left the NRL scrambling.Credit: Getty Images
The Raiders have not won the minor premiership since 1990 when coach Ricky Stuart was still playing. They went on to win the title that year.
More than 25,000 fans are expected to attend GIO Stadium for the Tigers clash – and they now have extra reason to hang around and celebrate should their team triumph, as expected.