The players may be on fire as they head to Sunday's home semi-final against Cronulla but it was the Canberra Raiders' wives and girlfriends - the WAGs - who shone last night.
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At a glittering function at Rydges Lakeside, the Raiders family came together for the Mal Meninga Medal ceremony.
Sticking to the soft drink, the boys looked sharp enough but the ladies ensured the glamour factor matched any Brownlow or Dally M awards nights.
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Canberra lock Shaun Fensom proved why he's rated a Raiders captain-in-waiting by winning back-to-back Mal Meninga Medals.
The 23-year-old capped off another outstanding season by winning the club's best-and-fairest award with 25 votes, five ahead of nearest rival Reece Robinson (20).
Fensom took home the Raiders' highest individual honour, voted by the players each week on a 3-2-1 basis, despite missing four games with a bicep injury.
He was harshly overlooked as a nominee for the Dally M Lock of the Year award after averaging more than 105 metres and 42 tackles a game.
But last night, one of the Raiders' most laidback stars was deservedly the centre of attention and was humble in the face of his achievement. ''It was a bit unexpected and I didn't think I'd come away with it, Reece has had an outstanding year and thought he'd get it.''
Former skipper Alan Tongue anointed Fensom as clear captaincy material earlier this year. ''The guys who play alongside him look up to him and love playing alongside him. Captaincy isn't about ranting and raving, it's about sticking to the values and culture of the club, and you display that in every part of your actions,'' Tongue said.
''That comes naturally to Shauny, he speaks very well and is the next [captaincy] step down the track I think.'' While individual awards are nice, a premiership is the one Fensom covets most. Canberra is rife with Raiders fever, with the Green Machine on a five-game winning streak heading into the finals. ''Semi-final football is a completely different level with the intensity and aggression. It's do or die,'' Fensom said.
Despite arriving as an NRL star, Fensom remains the humble country kid who first came here five years ago. ''I'm still the same bloke that came here four or five years ago straight out of the bush,'' Fensom said.
As of 5pm last night more than 22,000 tickets were sold for Sunday's final with about 2000 inner bowl seats remaining at Canberra Stadium. About 400 specials finals memberships for the match are still available for $50, and can be purchased at Raiders HQ
MENINGA MEDAL FINAL TALLY
Shaun Fensom: 25 votes; Reece Robinson: 20; Josh McCron: 13; David Shillington: 13; Blake Ferguson: 12
OTHER AWARD WINNERS: NRL Coach's Award: Josh McCrone and Joel Thompson. NRL Rookie of the Year: Mark Nicholls. Fred Daly Memorial Clubman of the Year: Brett White. Gordon McLucas Memorial Junior Representative Player of the Year: Edrick Lee. Geoff Caldwell Memorial Award for Club Education and Welfare: Joel Thompson.
Toyota Cup Player's Player: Mitchell Cornish. Toyota Cup Player's Award: Hayden Crockett.