When the Canberra Raiders won what was then known as the Toyota Cup under 20s competition in 2008 the future seemed brighter than the club's lime green jerseys.
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So it's a shock for the likes of Travis Waddell, who played hooker for that victorious 2008 side, no Raiders side has won any type of premiership since.
The club has enjoyed some success with its reserve grade side Mounties since but it's been a long wait for fans wanting to see the green jerseys on show on grand final day.
"Bloody oath," Waddell, who now calls Group 11 and the Wellington Cowboys home, said.
"There was a few years where they made it [finals] and it just didn't happen. Finals is a different game.
"They've always had good juniors but people move away and other things."
Waddell spent four years playing NRL at the Raiders after a successful time in the junior grades and made the top eight in both 2010 and 2012 but never made it past the second week of finals.
The club's NRL premiership drought stretches back to 1994 but it can be ended on Sunday night when the Raiders meet the Sydney Roosters in the grand final.
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The Raiders are outsiders against a Roosters side gunning for back-to-back titles but Waddell is backing his former club to get the job done.
"I reckon they'll win it, to be honest," Waddell said.
"They've got a good side and the Roosters do too but Josh Papalii is a mad players and a mate so I'd say Raiders for sure."
While Waddell left the Raiders for the Newcastle Knights in 2013 he still looks back fondly on his time in green and has many mates still involved with the club.
The Group 11 connection to the 2008 under 20s champions runs deeper than Waddell, as the side also featured Dubbo junior Brock Dunn and Nyngan powerhouse Justin Carney off the bench while at prop was Zac Merritt, who went on to win a title with the Forbes Magpies in 2016 before linking with Group 10 club Bathurst St Pat's.
The Raiders won the 2008 Toyota Cup in thrilling fashion, downing the Brisbane Broncos 28-24 in a match which went to golden point.
"We had some good moments and I enjoyed my time there," Waddell said of Canberra, before laughing about the one tough thing.
"I was happy to get out of the cold being a boy from north Queensland but enjoyed my time and have some good mates there.
"Zac Merritt was a good mate and they were a good bunch of country lads. That's the main thing I miss about it."
Of that 2008 under 20s side, only Jarrod Croker remains at the Canberra club.
He's gone to become a club legend in the nation's capital and is the current co-captain while also the leading point-scorer in Raiders history.
"He's a great leader and a good bloke," Waddell said of Croker.
After leaving Canberra Waddell spent time at both Newcastle and Brisbane before linking with the Wellington Cowboys after a stint in the Queensland domestic competition.
He capped off a memorable first season in Group 11 by being named the Bob Weir medallist for best on ground in the Cowboys' drought-breaking grand final win last month.
Ironically, the Cowboys also hand't won a premiership since 1994 prior to this year.
The NRL grand final kicks off at 7.30pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
