It's not just because her son, the Penrith Panthers' Brent Naden, may lose them or not look after them properly.

It's because she knows Brent would give away most he had to family members, supporters, and Panthers fans fallen on hard times if he could.

"I argue with him to keep his firsts of everything," Julie said with a laugh ahead of Sunday's grand final.

"I'm terrified if he does get a premiership ring on Sunday it might end up somewhere else so after the game I'll give him a cuddle not just because the (COVID) bubble is finished but also to get that ring."

All the talk around Brent this week has been relating to whether he will take to the field on Sunday.

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He's been named to start in the centres but that was also the case in in last weekend's preliminary final against South Sydney but coach Ivan Cleary dropped him back to the bench prior to kick-off in place of Tyrone May and he didn't see a minute of action.

Julie was in the crowd on that occasion and admitted it was difficult to watch.

But the way her son responded to that moment and the way he has overcome adversity and challenges while always supporting those around him is what Julie is most proud of when it comes to her son and rugby league.

"Not many know the kid we do," she said.

"Everyone understands the ultimate pest side and that's the jovial Brent but off the field there's a lot he doesn't get recognition for."

Brent has been in close contact with six-year-old Durakai Smith and his family in recent weeks as the young Panthers fan from Dubbo continues on the long road to recovery from a motorbike accident while there's countless other families working through tough times he's also donated to or assisted.

"The families and people like Durakai, that's where my heart explodes," Julie said.

The past 18 months has been something of a whirlwind not only for Brent, but his parents Julie and Geoff and also his two siblings.

After years of bouncing around clubs in Sydney a more mature Brent made his NRL debut with Penrith last year and was one of the breakout stars of the competition.

That was followed by younger brother, Brock, being part of the Wellington Cowboys side which claimed a drought-breaking Group 11 premiership win while sister Brittany also starred as part of a rugby league knockout winning squad.

Julie herself is one of the most hard-working volunteers at the Cowboys while Geoff Naden won a premiership with Wellington in the past and they'll be at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night with a handful of others from the footy-mad community.

"We're an extremely very close-knit family," Julie said.

"There's been a lot of sacrifices and compromises. Yesterday (Thursday) it was his (Brent's) grandmother's 70^th birthday and he always says he's Nan's favourite.

"But to not be part of that environment and family gatherings is the hardest, especially during COVID.

"But I think that's worked in Penrith's favour this year. They're a good bunch of young men and there's no egos in that team.

"When they score you can just see it's a mob mentality and that's helped Brent thought the COVID bubble and the challenges."

There's been the challenge of earning his spot back after initially being dropped when play returned from the COVID lockdown due to some defensive lapses but nothing has been bigger than when he was racially abused by members of the crowd during a game against the Warriors in August.

It was one of the biggest talking points of the season and the NRL investigated the matter before it was closed when Naden accepted an apology from those involved.

"Brent has never experienced such media attention and the exposure," Julie said.

"I'm extremely proud of him calling it out and allowing the process to go through.

"He knows who he is and where he comes from and nothing will change that."

Penrith's final lineup isn't expected to be confirmed until close to kick-off in the grand final, which is at 7.30pm on Sunday.